General Chemistry (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Extensive revised and updated 3rd edition of classic first-year text by Nobel Laureate. Atomic and molecular structure, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics correlated with descriptive chemistry. Problems. 75 pages of appendixes. "An excellent text, highly recommended."—Choice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 992 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; 3 edition (April 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486656225
• ISBN-13: 978-0486656229
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,971 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Undergraduate Text ever!, December 16, 2001

By	Ashutosh Jogalekar "Sciencecat" (Bridgewater, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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When Linus Pauling was teaching undergraduates at Caltech, he found that none of the existing undergrad texts would serve his purpose.So he decided to write his own.This was in the 1940's.The result, 'General Chemistry', even after more than 50 years, is the best introduction to Chemistry at the University level that I know of.I discovered this book in my sophomore year, and after that I couldn't put it down.If you can really read this book thoroughly, you can probably say that you have an excellent grasp of most or almost all of the fundamental principles of Chemistry.Pauling's style of explaining the essentials without compromising on information is unparalleled.The small, simple calculations that he illustrates in each chapter are enlightening.In addition, the book is lavishly illustrated with beautiful figures by Roger Hayward.Pauling has a special knack of bringing out the flavour of seemingly boring topics like Thermochemistry and Ionic Equilibrium.If you have to have one book for setting your Chemical knowledge on the right path, trust me and buy this one.You will get enlightened by it forever.

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Despite its age, still a truly fine book., October 3, 1999

By A Customer

Even though this is NOT the most up to date and technically correct text out there, it is still the best introduction to general chemistry I've seen which is why I rated it 5 stars (I refuse to dock it points for being old, unlike other reviews of other books I've seen). I found a copy at a garage sale, best four bucks I've spent in a while. The format of this book is superb, basing thermodynamics on his discussion of statistical mechanics and QM-he found it makes learning much more smooth, and I happen to agree. If someone would get permission to update this book and not much more, perfect general chem text for a college sequence. For those who'd like more physical and mathematical detail, the appendices are chock full of derivations, integrations and connections to make your heart swoon. Excellent book.

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasure Reading, October 13, 2000

By	Matthew M. Yau "Voracious reader" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Linus Pauling's treatise on general chemistry is exciting and interesting. The book presents very basic but in-depth discussion of chemical phenomena such as thermodynamics and molecular structure. It is clear, reader-friendly, and easy to read. It is not meant to be just a textbook but a fun book for evening reading. No mathematical background is assumed. I recommend this book for undergraduate students as well as everyone who is interested in reading science but curbed by all the mathematical manipulations.