Voyages in Conceptual Chemistry [Paperback]

Dan Barouch (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0763703087 | ISBN-13: 978-0763703080 | Publication Date: September 10, 1996 | Edition: 1st

In order to gain a true understanding of core chemistry topics, students need practice and exposure to problem-solving exercises that will act as springboards for conceptual thinking and qualitative understanding. Voyages in Conceptual Chemistry is a collection of 150 problems designed to cover the principles taught in a typical first year chemistry course. The type of conceptual thinking encouraged by this book is meant to supplement, not replace, a regular textbook. It asks students to solve puzzles, interpret observations and design experiments. This book also challenges students to utilize the versatility of general chemistry in solving problems in related subjects which might be studied in the future, such as organic chemistry, quantum mechanics, biochemistry, physical chemistry, etc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Jones and Bartlett; 1st edition (September 10, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763703087
• ISBN-13: 978-0763703080
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,441,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!!, November 12, 2005

By 

teva_man "teva_man" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Voyages in Conceptual Chemistry (Paperback)

This is an awesome, awesome book. The professor who was teaching Freshman Chemistry at my school about 7-8 years ago
ordered copies of this to put in the bookstore as 'optional'
reading. I was already a junior at the time, but I knew
my knowledge of some of the typical freshman chem topics was limited. Because the price wasn't too high, I bought it.
After working even a few of the problems, I'd already learned a lot. The big problem with many 200-level Freshman chem
courses is that they often are no more than exercises in calculator keypunching. The professor rarely does an adequate job explaining the "real world" significance of topics like kinetics, etc. and just expects the students to get all they need by working problems from the textbook. THIS book does NOT require use of a calculator! It makes you think about the concepts behind the material...the problems are usually tough, and they aren't for chickens. You have to explore many of them and spend time looking more deeply into the concepts. If you're not a pre-med, biochem, or chem major, I kinda doubt you'd enjoy or appreciate this book - but if you want a resource to help you learn the stuff at a higher level, this is a good one to use. I wish more freshman chem textbooks had this kind of material. GOOD JOB, MR. BAROUCH!! And there's a good Foreword by prizewinning and respected chemist Dudley Hershbach.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best book in chemistry understanding, February 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Voyages in Conceptual Chemistry (Paperback)

As a scientist who wrote numerous papers in inorganic and colloidal chemistry I find this book very stimulating as well as very clever. I wish to see more textbooks becoming "brainy" instead of plain cook-books---This should be left to F. Farmer for cooking.