Chemistry Books

[RVJ]

As part of a more integrated way to learn Chemistry outside of the classroom, I have started reading several books dealing with different parts of Chemistry.

 

I have just finished reading:

The Periodic Kingdom

By: P.W. Atkins

 

It was a great read that helped me understand exactly how intricately interconnected the elements of the periodic table are. It reinforced the information I have learned behind electron shells (the topic we are currently studying in my chemistry class).

 

I have just started reading:

The Periodic Table

By: Primo Levi

 

Thus far, I can't say I know enough about the book to give an opinion. This book doesn't deal with Chemistry specifically, instead it is an autobiography of the Chemist Primo Levi.

 

Which books would you recommend?

[Kerry]

I'm working my way through The Periodic Table Its Story and Its Significance (http://laboratorynews.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/the-periodic-table-its-story-and-its-significance-by-eric-r-scerri/) and very much enjoying it

[horsebox]

I highly recommend the book "Chemistry: The Central Science" by Brown and LeMay. Its a brilliant general chemistry book. The 1st book I bought was Chemistry For Dummies. I read it but when I got Chemistry: The Central Science I realised how crap Chemistry For Dummies is in comparison and see that I shoulda just got a proper book from the start. This goes for more specialised books too, just get a proper book and that will be all you'll ever need. For organic chem I recommend Organic Chemistry by McMurray. For Inorganic Chem I recommend Inorganic Chemistry by Shiver & Atkins. For Pharmacology I have Rang and Dales Pharmacology which is brilliant. I'm in my 3rd year of chemistry in uni and up until a few months ago I only had 2 books (the general chem and organic chem ones I mentioned). I noticed someone was selling their book collection so I decided to get a handful of books and it was one of the best investments I've ever made. Like this I read the book as my primary info source then use the internet to elaborate on concepts and fill in any gaps in my knowledge. This is a highly effective way of learning.

[hypervalent_iodine]

For organic chem I recommend Organic Chemistry by McMurray.

 

McMurry is good, but honestly it has nothing on Clayden. McMurry gives a fairly good grounding on some of the more basic areas of organic chemistry, but past that is somewhat lacking. It's more designed for people interested in the chemistry of biological systems, etc. If you're going to go out and pay hundreds of dollars on a text book for organic chemistry, you're really better of with Clayden than you are with McMurry. Additionally, some places sell Clayden as a combined pack with Shriver & Atkins, so there's that.