Customer Reviews

Organic Chemistry with Online Learning Center and Learning by Model CD-ROM

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Francis Carey's Organic Chemistry is a thick text intended for a two semester organic chemistry sequence. It covers the typical organic functional groups and their reactions: Alkanes, Alkyl Halides, Alcohols, Alkenes, Alkyns, Aromatics, Organometallics, Ethers, Carbonyls, Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and Amides. It also includes chapters on Spectroscopy, and chapters on the molecules of life: Amino acids, Nucleotides, Carbohydrates, and Lipids.

Francis Carey's Organic Chemistry is a decent textbook for learning organic chemistry on your own, but instructors tend not to like it because it isn't organized in the best manner. The book sometimes gives reactions of compounds that it hasn't previsously discussed. For example, the book gives reactions of esters before it really even explains what an ester is in a later chapter. To help to clean up these placement gaps, the book periodically has sections on compounds called "A review and preview" were reactions encountered early are reviewed. This is a little annoying because it forces you to learn the material out of order, which makes an even difficult subject more difficult.

I used this textbook for two semesters. I can't say that I didn't like the book, and if it wasn't for the organization problems, I probably would have given it four stars. It does have pretty good problems at the end of each chapter and the solution manuel gives answers to all of the questions in the textbook. The CD-rom is helpful for building molecules, and the online help site contains helpful reactions drills.

The main reason why the book wasn't particularly helpful for my classes was that neither of my professors really taught out of it; instead they had their own agenda that was more confusing and made it harder to learn the chemistry than if you just read the book alone. So if you are in an organic class that uses this book, read the chapters and do the problems, but understand that this alone will not mean that you will succeed in class. If you just read the book you may understand the book material well, but may not get the material that you professor wants you to learn. Pay attention in lecture and understand the type of problems that you teacher gives you in order to really be able to succeed in a class like this, because let's face it, organic teachers are some of the hardest teachers in the world.

Consider this text as a starting point to understanding the lesson if you have no background other than general chemistry. I accompanied it with a selection of my own: "Organic Chemistry as a Second Language" by David R. Klein. It took the shock out of the parts of this book that are simply too thick to absorb during the first run through a chapter.

The CD rom was useful for review. I suggest reviewing all material FIRST, and then the CD ROM as a knowledge check. It's useful mechanism for locking in the inundation of content.

I thought that the textbook was alright. Organization and clarity could have been better, but it can always be better. Depended on this book a lot, and it didn't let me down.

One of the best used books I've ever bought. I did not use it because I got my book back from the girl I lent it to just before the start of class but I sold it for a good price. Thank you.

I gave this book 3 stars simply because I cannot really compare it to any other organic book. The explanations inside, however, are put into simple terms and the problems are not overly excessive, and cover the basic lessons that each chapter tries to teach. For being my first organic chemistry book, I'd say that it is pretty swell!

I found this organic chem book to be not helpful at all. I had to consult other textbooks in order to halfway understand what is being taught. Not recommended to anyone.

product was listed as NEW and i assumed that meant w/out highlighting and with the CD - it was 20 bucks more than a book that was probably in better condition and i still have not received the CD.