Could anyone that is studying chemistry or has studied chemistry post their book list, I'm just curious what type of books I might have to purchase, and maybe suggest a really good book that would be good to start reading beforehand.
Did you guys revise much chemistry over the summer holidays before you went to university? If you did, was it helpful? If you didn't, do you wish you had?
I have an awful memory for organic reactions, I just can't ever remember them and I know I'll have forgotten them two weeks after my exams, should I just keep revising them over the summer.
Wothers and Keeler 'Why Chemical Reactions Happen" is quite good, maybe some of the Oxford University Primers, but it isn't really important to read much before you go
I wouldn't bother revising all the organic reactions, you'll be taught them again
Don't buy any books just yet, the department will give you a list of recommendations when you get here. I think it comprises Atkins' Elements of physical chemistry, Housecroft and Sharpe Inorganic chemistry and Claden et al. Organic chemistry. I have about ten books that I've bought over the last six years - I didn't just buy them all in one go, you can go to the library and see how much of a book you really need - if it's just a chapter it's not worth buying the book.
In terms of revision/reading before you start I just suggest that you look through your revision guides briefly to refresh your memory, don't worry too much about working over the holidays - enjoy them
Well I'm away at work for most of the summer, and I wanted to take a book to maybe read through. But thanks How much of my A Level stuff should I take with me? I take physics chemistry nd maths. I was gonna take the all my chemistry nd physics textbooks and then my folders maybe too.
I've been looking at the oxford university primers, they look good. i might get a couple
Get the ones which correspond best to your lecture course, the one on Chemical Bonding (by Winter) was excellent for me as it covered all my first term inorganic stuff, but the other two recommended ones weren't as useful.
Originally Posted by pink_cait
Well I'm away at work for most of the summer, and I wanted to take a book to maybe read through. But thanks How much of my A Level stuff should I take with me? I take physics chemistry nd maths. I was gonna take the all my chemistry nd physics textbooks and then my folders maybe too.
Take your texbooks and your notes, they'll come in handy for simple concepts you've forgotten about. No need to lug 2 years worth of work though, just your concise revision notes should be enough.
I've been looking at the oxford university primers, they look good. i might get a couple
Don't buy any primers before starting until you know which ones you'll need...they tend to be fairly expensive for what they are. The "Foundations of..." ones are also pretty pointless as they really are aimed at a fairly low level (I was happy to use them at the start of upper sixth).
The basic textbooks will vary - mine were Clayden's "Organic Chemistry", Shriver and Atkins' "Inorganic Chemistry", Atkins' "Physical Chemistry", Sykes' "Mechanism in Organic Chemistry" and Stephenson's "Mathematical Methods for Science Students" these were supplemented by loads of other ones depending on the lecture course and the level required.
I did no chemistry in the summer before I started apart from right at the end when I started reading two thermodynamics books we'd been told to look at by one of our tutors...
Don't buy any primers before starting until you know which ones you'll need...they tend to be fairly expensive for what they are. The "Foundations of..." ones are also pretty pointless as they really are aimed at a fairly low level (I was happy to use them at the start of upper sixth).
The basic textbooks will vary - mine were Clayden's "Organic Chemistry", Shriver and Atkins' "Inorganic Chemistry", Atkins' "Physical Chemistry", Sykes' "Mechanism in Organic Chemistry" and Stephenson's "Mathematical Methods for Science Students" these were supplemented by loads of other ones depending on the lecture course and the level required.
I did no chemistry in the summer before I started apart from right at the end when I started reading two thermodynamics books we'd been told to look at by one of our tutors...
Except when the authors are also your examiners... that's just about the best reason to buy one
Except when the authors are also your examiners... that's just about the best reason to buy one
Yes.....but probably doesn't happen to such a great extent elsewhere....I think most of the ones I own are written lecturers/tutors who then recommend them...
The basic textbooks will vary - mine were Clayden's "Organic Chemistry", Shriver and Atkins' "Inorganic Chemistry", Atkins' "Physical Chemistry", Sykes' "Mechanism in Organic Chemistry" and Stephenson's "Mathematical Methods for Science Students"
I wish places would stop recommending that book, it's useless as a starting text it's far more an advanced text for harder problems/revision.
Yes.....but probably doesn't happen to such a great extent elsewhere....I think most of the ones I own are written lecturers/tutors who then recommend them...
... and all three of your organic examiners this year have written primers... redox (Donohoe), PGs (Robertson) and carbs (Davis)...
I didn't read anything too heavy. I did read a couple of pop science books and some on the history of science. I found that understanding the context in which quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and certain modern chemical theories were developed very helpful. I'd suggest A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson and Creations of Fire by Cobb and Goldwrite.
Alot of books being named I might ask for a couple for my birthday (sad i know, but otherwise my parents won't buy them) lol. How did everyone find their first year of chemistry? Was it difficult? Ooo and do you ever have to write essays?
No, I don't mind Stephenson. It certainly has its flaws, but it's better than quite a few of the books out there aimed at the same level.
Well I like it too - it reminds me of Bostock and Chandler at A-level But for a lot of people they found it too inaccessible as there's not that much in the way of explanation/examples compared to others.
I'd probably say don't bother......it says for the "complete novice" and after a quick glance at the contents I think it really is being serious.....It doesn't even cover acids and bases until the last chapter so looks like it'll end up being somewhere between GCSE and A level but can't quite say where.....
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