College Chemistry: What’s It All About?
Ace It: 3 Study Tips For Chemistry Students
Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Chemistry Book
Best Chemistry Book: My Top 5 Recommendations & Reviews
- Chemistry: The Central Science – Best General Chemistry Textbook
- Organic Chemistry (2nd Edition) – Best Organic Chemistry Book
- Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
- Chemistry: A Molecular Approach – Best Student-Friendly Chemistry Book
- Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change
“All things are made of atoms.”
It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Although the quote mentioned above comes from a world-renowned physicist, I think it sums up the beauty – and relevance – of chemistry perfectly.
If you’re even remotely as fascinated by this as I am, you should get the best chemistry book for your future studies, one that will inspire you, rather than bore you to death – and I’m going to help you find one!
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College Chemistry: What’s It All About?
Okay, this part might get a bit confusing, but studying chemistry means going beyond the “general knowledge,” and studying all the different sub-disciplines, too:
- Analytical chemistry, which focuses on the following two areas – qualitative (What is it?) and quantitative (How much is there?) analysis.
- Organic chemistry has numerous applications, but the starting point always stays the same – studying carbon-containing compounds.
- Inorganic chemistry focuses on the structure, bonding, as well as chemical reactions of all substances and compounds – except those that contain carbon, of course!
- Biochemistry, also known as physiological chemistry, focuses on chemical structure, properties, and reactions that occur in all living cells.
- Physical chemistry, also known as theoretical chemistry, relies on mathematical methods and theory application to solve chemical problems and derive essential equations.
Don’t let this scare you, though. You’ll probably have a general chemistry course, to begin with, too, so don’t worry – it will all make sense eventually!
Ace It: 3 Study Tips For Chemistry Students
Before we move any further, I’d like you to remember that learning chemistry takes time and dedication – partial efforts won’t cut it here.
Break the course material down into small sections, focus on mastering them one at a time, and try to implement these study tips for chemistry students as often as possible.
It’s a slow process, and a tedious one, and it takes daily practice, but it’s one of the surest ways to fully understand fundamental concepts of chemistry.
1. Start With Understanding, Not Memorizing
Chemistry is, by all means, a complex science that will require you to have plenty of valuable information carved into your long-term memory.
With each lesson, new information will be thrown at you, but please, don’t bother with memorizing everything right away.
Instead, focus on understanding fundamental concepts – the whys and hows – first, and leave memorization for later.
2. Develop Great Problem-Solving Skills
Now, you’re probably wondering:
What’s the best way to develop these problem-solving skills?
Well, solving a lot of practice problems, of course!
3. You’re A Scientist In The Making – Ask Questions
Remember; always ask questions – and never settle for “just because.”
Don’t only read your course material but actively engage the book’s ideas, as well.
For instance, these are some of the questions you should ask yourself whenever you have a college chemistry textbook in your hands:
- What are this chapter’s central ideas?
- What does it all mean?
- Which terms are essential and worth memorizing?
- Which problems can I solve using this particular equation?
- How does this relate to things I’ve learned previously?
You get the picture!
Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Chemistry Book
Textbooks are expensive – everyone knows that.
Before you begin spending your hard-earned cash left and right, here are some essential things you need to consider:
Will You Keep The Book After You’re Done With The Actual Course?
Here’s the thing:
Some college chemistry textbooks are only “useful” for the duration of the actual course, while others tend to be excellent reference books, too.
Flip through the book if you have the chance, to get an overall feel of what it has to offer – that should help you decide whether the book is worth it or not.
Check If It’s Mandatory
The best way to go about this is to email your professor before the beginning of the course and check which textbooks are necessary course materials.
These things can be pretty pricey. That’s why it’s always better to check which ones are indeed essential for your future studies, rather than to burn a hole in your wallet.
Recommended Vs. Required
Now, there’s a subtle, but critical difference between “required” and “recommended” college chemistry books, which brings me to my next point:
If the book isn’t mandatory, ask yourself if it’s useful enough to buy or not.
New Vs. Used: The Battle Of The Budgets
If you ever went book shopping before – which I honestly hope you did – you’ve probably noticed something interesting:
There’s always a significant difference in price between new and used books, even when the latter is in pristine condition!
Why not use that to your advantage?
I mean, you’re going to have to obtain these college chemistry textbooks anyway, but buying used ones (as long as they fit the course requirements, of course) could save you some serious cash.
Lab Books Have To Be New
And while I’d always recommend a used book as a budget-friendly solution for students, laboratory workbooks have to be brand new.
There are no ifs or buts about it, okay?
Sneaking in a lab book that’s been previously used by another student is a huge no-no – and it might get you into trouble, too!
Best Chemistry Book: My Top 5 Recommendations & Reviews
Here’s what you’ve been waiting for all along:
A list of chemistry books for college students – my top 5 recommendations, that is – complete with in-depth reviews of each!
Chemistry: The Central Science – Best General Chemistry Textbook
Okay, the first one in my round-up of the best books for college-level chemistry is a book that made it all the way to its 14th edition!
I mean, they wouldn’t be printing new editions if the book was no longer considered useful, right?
Anyway, if you’re about to start a two-semester course in general chemistry, this textbook by Theodore E. Brown should become your new best friend and most trusted companion.
The book’s main advantage, besides the fact that it explains all the basic concepts in a student-friendly manner, is that it encourages the practical use of chemistry – for the most part, that is.
Moreover, it features useful sample exercises that not only help you apply the things you learn but develop your problem-solving skills even further, too.
And while most chapters were pretty easy to follow, there are certain parts of the book that could’ve been written in a more understanding – and entertaining – manner. I hate to say it, but it did have its „dry“ parts.
Plus, it’s not the most affordable textbook out there, and buying a new, hardcover edition might cost you a bit more than your college budget could handle.
Pros
- Suitable for two-semester courses in general chemistry
- It features excellent sample exercises
- Encourages real-world, practical use of chemistry
- Explains the basic concepts rather well
Cons
- The hardcover edition is quite pricey
- Certain parts are a bit confusing and “dry”
Chemistry: The Central Science
Organic Chemistry (2nd Edition) – Best Organic Chemistry Book
One of the main reasons why this book is beyond deserving of having its place in my round-up of the best chemistry books is the fact that it addresses a widespread issue most students face when studying chemistry:
The fundamental and deeply-rooted disconnect between learning and applying that knowledge.
Organic Chemistry focuses on more than merely explaining all the concepts you’d typically find in this sort of textbook – every section is followed by a “Skill Builder” problem set, essential for successful implementation of your knowledge.
As a result of that, it’s virtually unmatched when it comes to helping students develop their problem-solving skills!
Here’s where it gets rather apparent how much emphasis is put on skill-development, though:
Two whole chapters are almost entirely devoted to motivating students to apply what they learn and develop the skills needed to succeed in organic chemistry even further.
Why?
That’s the key factor missing from college-level chemistry education!
Unfortunately, if you want to check your answers or get any further clarifications, you’ll have to buy the solutions manual separately – and with the book being expensive enough as it is, it will severely impact your budget.
Pros
- Addresses the disconnect between learning and applying
- Encourages a skills-based approach to learning chemistry
- Two chapters are entirely dedicated to skill development
- Each section includes “Skill Builders” problem sets
Cons
- It’s super expensive
- You’ll need to buy the solutions manual separately
2
Organic Chemistry (2nd Edition)
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry – The Only Introduction To Chemistry You’ll Ever Need
As the name already suggests, the next one on my list is a staple for any one-semester course in organic, general, and biological chemistry.
Moreover, I consider it to be one of the best introductory textbooks out there. If you’re trying to grasp the basic concepts, this is the book you should turn to, time and again.
Not only is it well-written and easy to understand but it makes the point to underline the relevance of chemistry in everyday life, as well. That way, you’re not only learning chemistry for the sake of passing exams – you’re learning about its role in the way the world works, too!
More importantly, the idea of real-world application extends to the examples and problem sets, making it easier for students to understand why what they’re learning matters.
The only real issue is the price tag. As you can imagine, a college chemistry textbook like this one doesn’t come cheap – especially when it’s the latest, hardcover edition.
And while it might burn a hole in your pocket, it’s worth every penny:
You won’t find a better introductory chemistry textbook out there!
Pros
- Used for one-semester courses in organic, general, and biological chemistry
- Well written and easy to understand
- Filled with interesting illustrations
- It underlines the relevance of chemistry in everyday life
- Plenty of real-world examples
Cons
- New, hardcover editions are quite expensive
3
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
Chemistry: A Molecular Approach – Best Student-Friendly Chemistry Book
Even at first glance, it’s evident that this book was written with students in mind.
It’s well organized, and moves from one topic to the next in a clear and sensible way – it goes into detail, but omits them in all the right places, too. The author made it a point to write in an easy-to-understand manner.
And if you’re a visual learner, I’m pretty sure you’ll find this book very easy to master! The eye-catching illustrations, graphs, and other such “demonstrations” all work together to help you understand the whys and hows of chemistry.
On that note, the book is also filled with problem sets of various difficulty levels, from the most basic stuff to cumulative exercises. By the time you’re done with them, you’ll understand the material thoroughly.
One thing I didn’t like – besides the hefty price, that is – was the lack of balance.
Certain areas of the book tend to barely scratch the surface and keep explanations at an elementary level, which will probably leave you wanting more. But at the same time, some chapters will overload you with a vast amount of information you’re supposed to take in at once.
Pros
- Written in an easy-to-understand manner
- It ties every chemistry concept with real-world application
- Problem sets are presented in various difficulty levels
- Visual learners will find the illustrations very helpful
Cons
- The hardcover edition is quite costly
- The book lacks “balance”
4
Chemistry: A Molecular Approach
Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change – Understand The Molecular Nature Of The World Around You
Remember that Feynman’s quote I mentioned at the beginning of the article?
“All things are made of atoms.”
Well, this is the book that sums it up better than any other on this list!
Moreover, it’s a general chemistry classic:
Every topic is addressed in great detail, from understanding the atomic structure and the periodic table to general chemistry and chemical reactions, without assuming any prior knowledge, which is something a lot of college-level textbooks struggle to achieve.
Also, every chapter includes not only step-by-step exercises and examples but excellent problem sets, as well. As a result, the book will keep you engaged and motivate you to apply your knowledge, rather than merely memorize the information you’re given.
Oh, and you’ll love the macroscopic-to-microscopic molecular illustrations – as far as the visual appeal goes, this book is virtually unmatched!
That said, Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change isn’t the most budget-friendly textbook out there. But before you turn away, know that it’s still a lot more affordable than most hardcover books you’ll need for your chemistry course – and it’s worth every dime.
Pros
- A classic among general chemistry textbooks
- The authors addressed every topic in great detail
- It provides unmatched macroscopic-to-microscopic molecular illustrations
- Every chapter features step-by-step exercises
- You’ll find problem sets at the end of every section
Cons
- It’s not exactly budget-friendly
5
Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change
Wrapping It Up
Okay, so, we’ve established that each one of the books included in my round-up is excellent – but which one is the best chemistry book for all you college kids?
Well, as far as my personal favorites go, the Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry seems to be the best one for the job. It’s well written and easy to understand, but most importantly, it shows you why what you’re learning matters and how to apply it everyday life!
What do you think about my choice? Would you go with a different book for your upcoming college chemistry course? Let me know in the comments below!
