General Chemistry (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

~ John W. Hill (Author), Ralph H. Petrucci (Author), Terry W. McCreary (Author), Scott S. Perry (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book retains the relaxed, easy-to-read style of the previous edition to provide integrated coverage of organic and biochemistry, applications, and tools that foster problem-solving skills. More than any other, this text offers balance-in the topics presented, and in its presentation of the subject of chemistry. The authors focus on three mains areas to help readers master the core concepts of general chemistry and enhance their problem-solving skills: problem-solving support and active assessment, conceptual development, and visualization of the molecular behavior of matter. For anyone who wants a relaxed, easy-to-read book that emphasizes major topics in chemistry as well as problem-solving techniques.

From the Back Cover

This text retains the relaxed, easy-to-read style of the previous edition to provide integrated coverage of organic and biochemistry, applications, and tools that foster problem-solving skills. More than any other, this text offers balance—in the topics presented, and in its presentation of the subject of chemistry. Using a wide variety of exercises, examples, and learning aids, this book provides a number of problem-solving techniques and explains how and when they should be used. For anyone who wants a relaxed, easy-to-read book that emphasizes major topics in chemistry as well as problem-solving techniques. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1200 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition (March 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131402838
• ISBN-13: 978-0131402836
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #247,681 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Trades readability for depth and rigor, May 24, 2004

By	Bruce Nourish "bjan" (Phoenix, Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This text is best suited for very good students who are motivated, comfortable reading English at a high level and mathematically adept: other students would be served much better by a different book. It contains far more material than could possibly be covered in a standard freshman general chemistry sequence, even with a good class. The authors assume that their audience is composed of the students I described initially (I am told it is the textbook at MIT), and leave it to the instructor to "break it down" for the students. Initially, I was not fond of this book, but I have slowly changed my mind, and I believe I have a better grasp of introductory chemistry thanks to the extra depth it goes to and the challenges it made me rise to.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Intro Text, June 16, 2000

By	teva_man "teva_man" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: General Chemistry: An Integrated Approach (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

This text was used in 1999-2000 at Oregon State University for the 100-level General Chem sequence for non-science majors. It is an excellent text with a (generally) friendly approach to introductory topics, and there are many nice photographs and discussion boxes containing info about practical chem applications. For some reason, the authors include a significant section on organic chemistry in chapter 2, far before they discuss bonding.... Other than that, this book is great. Better than four out of five other general chem texts.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent, Readable Chemistry Text, March 25, 2006

By	John L. Vaughn (Elyria, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

_General Chemistry (4th Edition)_ is the book that has taught me most of what I know about chemistry. I just finished my second semester of general chemistry, and I enjoyed reading the chapters very much. In total, I went through well over 700 pages of it with a fine-tooth comb, and I never once had difficulty with the material. Every problem in the book refers back to what you learn in the chapters. It rarely leaves you in the dark (it will tell you when something is beyond the scope of the text).

It is not a difficult read if your competency with the English language is satisfactory. Never once did the thought occur to me that the explanations are too difficult to understand. The authors are quite eloquent. Furthermore, there are a prodigious number of information boxes, tables, and graphs scattered throughout the book. There are also quite a few hints, chapter summaries, and lengthy introductions that explain the importance of the material that you are about to learn. Honestly, what more could you ask for?

The organization of the material itself is strange at times (like another reviewer noted), but overall it is well done. It would have been best if the organic chemistry concepts were saved until the very end of the book because they tend to distract from the less advanced concepts. In any case, they don't appear too often. The only other problem that I can think of involves the answers to the end-of-the-chapter problems. On several occasions, my professor and I found answers in the back of the book that were simply wrong. Evidently, the authors updated the text and missed a few.

However, in the final analysis, I fail to see how a rating less than five stars is appropriate. For the sheer size and quality of _General Chemistry_, the few flaws that it contain are negligible.