Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I am a high school student, and I purchased this book in the hopes of learning about Chemistry for my subject test, I take as of now Regents Chemistry, which is the standard curriculum in New York State. I figured I had learned enough general regents Chemistry that anything inside this book would prove no great struggle. I was wrong, the language was sort of difficult and slightly abstract to understand, by no means was it incomprehensible, but for someone learning the language and voice as it moved from point to point and lesson to lesson was not strong enough. Now I enjoy Chemistry, otherwise I doubt I would be taking the test, it took me nearly one and a half hours to grasp the first atomic structure in regards to quantum numbers and etc. Now I learn quickly, and I take other advanced placement courses, it was not the wording that was difficult. I looked back and found that there were not enough diagrams, not even one for Bohr's model of the Hydrogen atom, which is difficult enough to learn spin quantum numbers and etc, without a diagram it becomes extremely so. The directions are also not that clear, which I struggled with, I would have to reread sentences to comprehend it. I switched to SparkNotes Chemistry review and I learned remarkably fast, I understood everything clearly, the worst thing about the book are the teaching directions and also the diagrams which should be explained. I am now learning Chemistry from Sparknotes, by all means a very good review book if you can understand concepts and need review. But if you need help with concepts look to Sparknotes.
Pros:
-Great review book
-Detailed explanation
-lesson plans are easily organized and cover everything
-Review and practice tests for each chapter
Cons:
-Writing is difficult if you're learning
-Not a learning book, a review book
-Don't buy this book if you want to learn Chemistry, buy it if you want to review stuff you already know
-Chances are, if you get this book you're an AP Chem student for example, because regular high school curriculums do not cover sigma and pi bonds, spin quantum numbers, electron affinity and much more
Bottom Line: Great review book, if the concepts are familiar to you and your high school Chemistry Course goes above and beyond what is required for a high school final/exam. Don't expect this is a self-teaching book, use it as a reference or a review book if you already know the material. Chances are again the only people who would know beyond the average high school course of Chemistry are AP Chem students, if you're trying to learn new Chemistry, go to sparknotes.
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