[LGrosvenor101]

Hey,

I have just finished my A Levels and I am hoping to study Chemistry at uni from October. Some people have told me already not to worry about reading books over the summer etc, especially those that could be on pre-course reading lists, but I've got 3 months to kill and I really want to start getting into it to SOME extent.

Therefore, I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for books, which won't be on course reading lists, but will still be fun and interesting to read over the summer? I've already got Why Chemical Reactions Happen, but others would be great!

Many thanks, and + rep to anyone that helps

Lucy

[megan205]

Hiya, I'm studying Chemistry starting this year too I've got 'The Case of the Poisonous Socks' which I haven't read yet but looks quite good. I read 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson last year and thought it was great. It's not specifically chemistry but has loads of interesting facts etc without being too heavy-going. That's the one I'd recommend

[LGrosvenor101]

(Original post by megan205)
Hiya, I'm studying Chemistry starting this year too I've got 'The Case of the Poisonous Socks' which I haven't read yet but looks quite good. I read 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson last year and thought it was great. It's not specifically chemistry but has loads of interesting facts etc without being too heavy-going. That's the one I'd recommend

Oh Hey thanks for those suggestions! The Case of the Poisonous Socks sounds quite interesting :P May I ask, where are you hoping to study firm and insurance wise? thanks xD

[megan205]

I'm studying at Bath - I did the IB and got my results last week. The offer was made unconditional yesterday I had Cardiff down as my insurance. What about you?

[LGrosvenor101]

Oh well done! Glad the wait is over? And Warwick is my firm with Birmingham as my insurance Just want my A Level results now - its annoying having to wait like 2 months for them Anyway, again, well done for getting it!

[jamedz]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Molecu.../dp/0521584140

I read this before I started my degree last year, well worth a read!

[mahdishariff]

Hey all
I've just graduated in Chemistry from Warwick (2 days ago infact and got a first xD!!) so can give you a pretty good idea of useful books!

The 3 core (compulsory) text books you need are:
Atkins - Physical Chemistry
Shriver & Atkins - Inorganic Chemistry
Clayden, Greeves, Warren and Wothers - Organic Chemistry

Other books I found useful (and have bought) are:

2 Oxford Primers - Chemical Bonding by Mark I.Winter & Periodicity and the S&P block elements by N.C.Norman

Shapes of Organic Molecules - N.G.Clark
Keynotes in Organic Chemistry - Andrew F.Parsons

There is also another really useful one for learning how to arrow push but I lost my copy so will have to get back to you on that one :P

Luckily for you as I've graduated now I no longer need these so I am happy to sell these off cheaply (they cost a fortune from the bookshop - the top 3 alone cost £150!!!) and for the LUCKY buyer I'll even chuck in my (worryingly colorful) revision notes which got me my first class honours! :P

The revision notes especially will be a godsend - but you can thank me in 3 years

If your interested or wanted to know what that mystery last book is (I'll try and find out for you!) get in touch!

Otherwise good luck in Chemistry

Mahdi x

[BJack]

I wouldn't worry too much about trying to get through a lot of stuff before you start your degree. WCRH is plenty to be getting on with and gives a good idea of some of the core ideas you'll be covering in organic chemistry.

(Original post by mahdishariff)
There is also another really useful one for learning how to arrow push but I lost my copy so will have to get back to you on that one :P

How can you write a whole book on arrow pushing?

[mahdishariff]

(Original post by BJack)
I wouldn't worry too much about trying to get through a lot of stuff before you start your degree. WCRH is plenty to be getting on with and gives a good idea of some of the core ideas you'll be covering in organic chemistry.



How can you write a whole book on arrow pushing?

Trust me you'd be surprised ^^

Which year are you in and where are you studying at?

The book (I wish I could remember what it was called...) was actually brilliant though and genuinely if you learn how to arrow push properly the rest of organic falls into place.

Also, I agree you dont need to worry about prereading to be honest (unless you just refresh your memory of your a-levels), the books I had suggested were for whilst you were actually doing the degree.

[BJack]

(Original post by mahdishariff)
Trust me you'd be surprised ^^

Which year are you in and where are you studying at?

The book (I wish I could remember what it was called...) was actually brilliant though and genuinely if you learn how to arrow push properly the rest of organic falls into place.

Also, I agree you dont need to worry about prereading to be honest (unless you just refresh your memory of your a-levels), the books I had suggested were for whilst you were actually doing the degree.

Finished second year at Oxford. Maybe I should investigate that book and see if I can take my understanding of mechanistic organic chemistry beyond simply rote learning of mechanisms.

And, yes, I was directing my first comment more at the thread starter than you -- I tried to make progress with the breeze blocks in your post before first year and it almost put me off chemistry. It can be rather daunting to go it alone.

[cpchem]

(Original post by BJack)
Finished second year at Oxford. Maybe I should investigate that book and see if I can take my understanding of mechanistic organic chemistry beyond simply rote learning of mechanisms.

And, yes, I was directing my first comment more at the thread starter than you -- I tried to make progress with the breeze blocks in your post before first year and it almost put me off chemistry. It can be rather daunting to go it alone.

Who's teaching physical organic these days?

[BJack]

(Original post by cpchem)
Who's teaching physical organic these days?

We had Jeremy Robertson for first and second year. Ed Anderson taught some of the second year course, too. Looks like Jez might be on sabbatical next year because his Orbitals & Mechanisms courses have been taken over by other lecturers.

[cpchem]

Ah... I forgot they'd screwed with the course.

[Priddo]

I have the same books listed above by mahdishariff; that is

Organic Chemistry by Clayden, Greeves and Warren
Inorganic Chemistry by Shriver and Atkins
Physical Chemistry by Atkins

and also The Chemistry Maths Book by Steiner

These helped me get a 2.1 from Durham (it was my own incompetence and hatred of Organic chem that prevented anything more, not the books) in Chemsitry and Physics, so if anyone would like to buy these off me at a greatly reduced price I would be very happy to help.

Drop me a message if you're interested.

In reply to the OP's message, if I were you I really wouldn't bother aha, you'll have enough to learn when you get there, but really getting your head around Why Chemical Reactions Happen would be great, I remember trying to read it in AS Level for some interviews and not having the scoobiest what it all meant. Now looking back over it I understand it (probably a good thing...), but if you can get started on that you'll have a great start to your course.

[Couldxbe]

I read nothing over summer, didn't even attempt the pre-course questions.

Just enjoy your summer.

In fact, to add that I rarely used textbooks throughout my degree. I found lecture notes and online resources much more informative, and most importantly, specific to the lecture course.