Customer Reviews

Exploring Creation with Chemistry 2nd Edition Full Course CD-ROM

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Before I begin my review, I want to state my "credentials" for reviewing the Apologia Chemistry textbook. I am certified in the state of Texas in the field of secondary composite science, which includes chemistry. I have previously homeschooled my kids, so I know the needs of homeschoolers. Most relevantly, I'm in my second year of teaching chemistry using this book at a small Christian school.

Our school is a small classical Christian school and is very intensive in certain areas at the high school level, especially in the area rhetoric and writing. We could not accomplish all we wanted to in all of the other disciplines if our science classes were exceptionally challenging. We also have very limited resources to equip a science lab. For a school like ours and for homeschoolers, the Apologia text is perfect.

All of the most important concepts in chemistry are presented in the text and done so in a scientifically credible way. At the same time, the concepts are presented in a way that my students are generally able to understand for themselves (with some exceptions, such as the complicated heat equations in Chapter 2). I appreciate that the book offers several labs per chapter and that they're labs that can be done with household chemicals. Since we don't have a true chemistry lab or a budget for more expensive equipment, these labs are perfect for allowing us to do scientifically meaningful labs on a budget.

It's true, as some reviewers have noted, that the book is somewhat simplified, compared to certain other high school chemistry texts. There's no comparison between the Apologia Chemistry text and a text that might be used to teach AP Chemistry. But not everyone who takes chemistry needs to take AP chemistry, which has a reputation for being the most difficult AP test (all of which are already difficult!) The correct comparison to make is whether or not this text meets the need of homeschoolers and average high school chemistry students. In this case, the book is well-suited for the purpose for which it was created.