A good book to start my journey into Chemistry!

[Vitto]

Greetings everyone!

 

For about some weeks now I've been looking up some reactions over the web, and I am glad to say that a good amount has been generated within myself, which moved me to reproduce some reactions (thermite, and some other pyrotechnics), and started collecting several kinds of metals. After some experimentation, my desire changed ways and went more into trying to understand the "why's and how's" that are hidden within Chemistry, and thus an interest in augmenting my current levels of knowledge in that subject.

 

To start, I decided to look back on my old school notes, but realized that there's not the really intriguing answers I was looking for, so I opted to use a book instead, but I only got the very very basics into what chemistry is, but I am willing to learn and transform this curiosity into a long term hobby. Is there any book/book series you'd recommend to an amateur?

[studiot]

 

and started collecting several kinds of metals

 

Do you really want Chemistry or perhaps Metallurgy?

[Vitto]

 

Do you really want Chemistry or perhaps Metallurgy?

 

My father used to know alot of Metallurgy, and currently he ir helping me on most of its aspects, and we've made quite a few experiments like making steel, reinforcing iron, even making some gold and platinum jewelry, but I'm more into Chemistry, and I've got no one to tutor me in that area, so I'd like to learn on my own.

[studiot]

OK so you want a general overview?

 

I would recommend Chemistry for Dummies.

 

But I woudl not recommend Chemistry Demistified as its presents a series of @how clever we are@ articles without attempts to link things into a coherent whole or give any indication of the breadth of coverage.

 

Some other books that are a good read in themselves and quite motivational are

 

Molecules by Atkins

 

Chasing the Molecule by Julian Buckingham

 

Materials for Electronics (Open University set book)

 

You might like to also look at some Materials Science books, those by

 

Askland,

 

Callister

 

or Higgins are good.

[Vitto]

That'll work for now! Thanks, really.

[Dekan]

Vitto, try to get hold of the book: "Asimov on Chemistry". It's just what anyone interested in Chemistry needs, to gain an understanding of not only the Science, but also of the historical development of Chemistry,

 

My own edition of the book was bought in 1974, from the "Scientific Book Club". I've done a quick google search, and second-hand copies are available. Though for quite expensive prices - not perhaps surprising, considering how good the book is! I really do recommend it. It's pure gold.

[Elite Engineer]

If you want to understand reactions and particularly reaction with metals, you need to read up on inorganic chemistry. I recommend reading up on

 

organic chemistry first to really understand reaction mechanisms, and how reactions proceed.

 

Any university level textbook should be good

 

 

~ee