Is 'Calculations in A Level Chemistry' by Jim Clark, good?

I'm not really sure if it's worth buying but it seems very highly recommended. I'm currently on a B/A grade at the moment and need an A/A* at A2, and I don't struggle with the maths tbh, I get the molar calculations frequently wrong though due to silly mistakes. I have an A at maths AS but did find it ridiculously difficult at some points so I could definitely do with improvement. Is it worth buying if you have it, or not?

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Reply 1

twisted

I was also considering buying this book, the reviews aid this. This is the book that was written by the chemguide guy, if I am not mistaken?

Reply 2

chemicalX

Original post by Magenta96

Original post by twisted

I was also considering buying this book, the reviews aid this. This is the book that was written by the chemguide guy, if I am not mistaken?

Best book to get for chemistry calculations! I felt that the calculation questions were not enough for me to practise on (before hitting the exams) and i bought this book as recommended by chemguide and also my teacher. Best thing i ever did and this secured me an A for the paper i sat leading to a A overall.

Cant recommend this stuff enough! best investment you'll make!

Reply 3

Ben Kenobi

Check his website instead of the book

Reply 4

twisted

Original post by chemicalX

Tempting. If it weren't so expensive I'd buy it in a heart beat but the hefty price is leaving me indecisive. Is the book more explanatory through text or through example? Also, does it have a reasonable amount of practice questions? Thanks for the recommendation.

Reply 5

chemicalX

Original post by twisted

It has both! lots of explanation and lots of worked through examples of every type of question they could give you so its a matter of learning through practise.

Check on ebay, it might be cheaper there.

Reply 6

twisted

Original post by chemicalX

Did you use it mainly for A2 calculations or AS?

Reply 7

chemicalX

Original post by twisted

Did you use it mainly for A2 calculations or AS?

I only got the book in my second module of A2 and it was great. However it has lots of as and a2 content so I am assuming it must be brilliant for all modules.

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Reply 8

Big-Daddy

It will be very good for A-level calculations and cover everything easily, with lots of practice questions, but is not a good foundation for studies above A-level. He once assumed that sulphuric acid has 2 strong dissociations.

Reply 9

Arieisit

Original post by Magenta96

Yes yes yes! I bought it, its amazing! Buy it.

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Reply 10

Magenta96

Thank you everyone for your opinions, I've ordered it! :smile:

Reply 11

Arieisit

Original post by Magenta96

Thank you everyone for your opinions, I've ordered it! :smile:

Great, you wouldn't regret it.

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Reply 12

Nitrogen

Original post by Magenta96

Thank you everyone for your opinions, I've ordered it! :smile:

Seems a bit late since you've ordered the book :tongue:

I think you don't really need to buy a specific book for calculations. The most complex maths is working out PH of buffers and that isn't hard after some practise. In chem5 you cant really learn the calculations, it's more about deducting what to do with the information you have and you can't learn that.

Reply 13

Arieisit

Original post by Nitrogen

Seems a bit late since you've ordered the book :tongue:

The mathematics ifself might not be hard but its understanding the calculations that can be a problem. You make it sound like they say given x and y concentrations , solve the equation to find the pH.
It's not a mathematics paper therfore they will not focus too much on mathematical ability.

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Reply 14

Nitrogen

Original post by Arieisit

I know, because I've done it before. Im trying to say that you'll understand the calculations fairly quick after doing some questions. In an exam you'll have to be fully able to understand what a question is asking and what calculations to preform. You can know all the calculations, the hard thing is knowing when to apply them and I think you can't learn these skills through a book.