Organic Chemistry, Fourth Edition: Structure and Function [Hardcover]

K. Peter C. Vollhardt (Author), Neil E. Schore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 6, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0716743744 | ISBN-13: 978-0716743743 | Edition: Fourth Edition

New edition of the acclaimed organic chemistry text that brings exceptional clarity and coherence to the course by focusing on the relationship between structure and function.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

K. PETER C. VOLLHARDT University of California, Berkeley. - NEIL E. SCHORE University of California, Davis.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1203 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman; Fourth Edition edition (August 6, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716743744
• ISBN-13: 978-0716743743
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #612,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An adequate organic text...but that's all, October 30, 2002

By 

Russell J. Franks (Norman, OK United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Organic Chemistry (Hardcover)

This is not a very good organic text. My department selected this text, and I am teaching out of it now, but I don't like it very much. It follows the standard functional-group based organization that the majority of organic texts on the market currently use, which I have certain problems with (see the text by Whitesell & Fox for a contemporary alternative organizational format). I don't think that this text does a sufficient job in the beginning of equipping the student with the fundamental chemical principles that are needed later in the course, especially with the sparse treatment of bonding and MO theory given in the first chapter. The same goes for the treatment of basic principles of thermodynamics, kinetics, and acid-base theory. These are such important principles; I wish the text did a more thorough job in discussing them. The biggest gripe that I have about the text is that it is a slave to the new IUPAC system of organic nomenclature. For example, while, granted it is technically correct, according to the IUPAC system, to use 1,1-dimethylethyl to refer to a tert-butyl group, practically speaking, this is not the case. Just call it a tert-butyl group for Heaven's sake!! 99.999% of organic chemists are going to know what you are talking about. The homework problems also leave a lot to be desired. If you are considering adopting this text, I'd recommend taking a good look at one of the other texts on the market (e.g. Whitesell & Fox, Jones, or Bruice) before adopting this one. You might come to regret your decision.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Well-Written Text, August 19, 2000

By 

Matthew M. Yau "Voracious reader" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Organic Chemistry (Hardcover)

A very well-written text, Vollhardt covers basic functional groups in organic chemistry and even difunctional compounds, carbohydrates, polycyclic benzenoid and heterocycles. With very plain language and explicit illustrations, each chapter provides a summary of new reactions and plenty of exercises. The intensity of this book is along the line with McMurry's Organic Chemistry. This book is suitable for especially students studying biological sciences who need an overview in organic chemistry.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Alright, June 27, 2002

By 

M. Huron "mh" (san francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Organic Chemistry (Hardcover)

Granted I am taking this course for the second time (yes I fell behind and hopelessly played "catch-up"). However, the previous book I used by Bruice was far more helpful. It contained more examples, explanations were more simply put, and there were more excercises throughout the chapters to reinforce concepts. Although there were several mistakes (apparently due to bad editing), I felt overall, the text by Bruice was superior.