General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications (9th Edition) (Hardcover)

by Ralph H. Petrucci (Author), William S Harwood (Author), Geoff E Herring (Author), Jeffry Madura (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications is recognized for its superior problems, lucid writing, and precision of argument. This updated and expanded edition retains the popular and innovative features of previous editions–including Feature Problems, follow-up Integrative and Practice Exercises to accompany every in-chapter Example, and Focus On application boxes, as well as new Keep in Mind marginal notes. Topics covered include atoms and the atomic theory, chemical compounds and reactions, gases, Thermochemistry, electrons in atoms, chemical bonding, liquids, solids, and intermolecular forces, chemical kinetics, principles of chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, electrochemistry, representative and transitional elements, and nuclear and organic chemistry. For individuals interested in a broad overview of chemical principles and applications.

From the Publisher
General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications is recognized for its superior problems, lucid writing, and precision of argument. This edition introduces a number of innovative features--including new Feature Problems, new follow-up Practice Exercises to accompany every in-chapter Example, and a number of new Focus On application boxes. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1168 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 9 edition (February 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131493302
• ISBN-13: 978-0131493308
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,320 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the more technical student who has had a touch of chemistry prior to tackling this, August 23, 2006

By	Craig Matteson (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

While there is a great deal of convergence about the concepts taught in a one year general chemistry course, the way those principles are taught, to what depth, and the kind of vocabulary used in teaching them varies from text to text. This allows the authors to focus their teaching in ways appropriate to different kinds of students.

This text is geared towards a one year course in general chemistry for students going on to careers in engineering, biology, and other technical fields. The vocabulary of the text is adapted to build up comfort with the technical terms of chemistry and familiarity in working with formulae rather than being content with intuitions about chemistry. It also has a nice addition of the actual people whose names are given to various laws and concepts in chemistry. When the name is presented there is also a picture and a sentence or two about who they were. I enjoyed this a great deal because it brings the text to life a bit more.

Pedagogically there are several nice helps that show the experience the authors have in teaching real life students and the kinds of misconceptions they tend to have. In the margins there are notes called "Keep in Mind" that help students avoid those common traps that come to easily to beginners in any field. There are well chosen diagrams, drawings, and pictures that aid in teaching rather than being content with decoration. The text also has notes entitled "Are You Wondering" that help students deal with questions that are probably arising in their mind as they are working through these concepts for the first time.

The problems in the back are grouped according to the concepts taught in the chapter and the problems numbered in red have the answers provided in the back of the book. They also provide an Integrative Example that shows the concepts in a more real life problem. After these come a series of integrative problems and advanced exercises. These are followed with feature problems and self-assessment exercises. When learning these concepts it is essential to do lots of work with them in order to be sure you understand them and to develop comfort with working with them. It will make learning later in the book easier and allow you to take more from the course after it is completed.

This is an excellent text for students who have had at least a bit of chemistry before tackling this course. And for technical students it will be more rewarding than other more basic texts even though they both cover similar ground. The more technical approach taken here will be more enriching to them.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Engineer's Opinion, April 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

I have taken many chemistry courses throughout my highschool and college career. This book has by far been the worst chemistry book I have ever read. The extremely poor organization of examples and confusing diction is not helpful to anyone taking a general chemistry course. You will have a much more successful time using your old highschool chemistry books as references.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No clear cut directions on how to solve the problems, April 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

I have taken several chemistry courses in high school and college. However i find this book to be very difficult in understanding. I find myself refering back to my old notes and books. There are surely more chemistry books out there that could explain chemistry itself in a more efficient manner. This book does not contain any clear cut directions on how to solve many problems, in addition to containing many problems in the exercises section which was also not explained the lecture part of the book. The practice problems also does not help in solving many of the problems because it is simple and straightforward as opposed to the exercises which is very misleading and unclear. I, as a science major, do not recommend this book unless of course you are required to purchase it by a professor who does not care for you to pass the class.