What's a good chemistry review book?

[ArkansasRanger]

I need a review book for general chemistry since it's been eight years since I had it last. I'm looking at Amazon.com and will probably order two to three of the following

Chemistry for Dummies

Chemistry: Concepts and Problems: A Self Teaching Guide

General Chemistry I As a Second Language: Mastering the Fundamental Skills

Basically, I need help with the formulary aspects. I clearly recall all of the concepts, but offhand I don't remember much about moles, stochiometry, etc. Is there a book you prefer?

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[agirl]

deleted.

I need a review book for general chemistry since it's been eight years since I had it last. I'm looking at Amazon.com and will probably order two to three of the following

Chemistry for Dummies

Chemistry: Concepts and Problems: A Self Teaching Guide

General Chemistry I As a Second Language: Mastering the Fundamental Skills

Basically, I need help with the formulary aspects. I clearly recall all of the concepts, but offhand I don't remember much about moles, stochiometry, etc. Is there a book you prefer?

 

[Nasrudin]

I think the MCAT chemistry book from Berkely Review is the best general chem workbook out there.

But I started chemistry as a pre-nursing student. And took 2 warm up courses before completing gen chem at a 4 yr school. And took the MCAT before I forgot all of it.

If your alebgra skills are decent. And you already know the concepts. Then you need either a problem/solution book or The Berkeley Review book. Depending if you conceptual based problem solving or just practice.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I think the MCAT chemistry book from Berkely Review is the best general chem workbook out there.

But I started chemistry as a pre-nursing student. And took 2 warm up courses before completing gen chem at a 4 yr school. And took the MCAT before I forgot all of it.

If your alebgra skills are decent. And you already know the concepts. Then you need either a problem/solution book or The Berkeley Review book. Depending if you conceptual based problem solving or just practice.

I'm needing to brush up before o-chem.

 

[Nasrudin]

I'm needing to brush up before o-chem.

OK. Then definitely the Berkeley Review Gen Chem book. If I didn't already give it to someone else I would send it to you.

I have been peeping the med student boards for study technique tips. And interestingly it came up a bit that some of them we're using the Step 1 first aid book to summarize and reinforce the lecture material. I use to think using MCAT books with course work was little off.

Maybe with keeping track of the adventures of meandering phd's it's not great. But for dialing in the most pertinent skills and topics. They're perfect.

The overlap from gen chem to organic chem is more acid/base chemistry, atomic structure, elctronegativity and other periodic trends. The heavy "formulaic"--if I understand your word correctly--and calculation stuff with stochiometry is minimal.

I've heard a lot of good things about "the 2nd language books" but I've never used them.

 

[BennieBlanco]

There is no need to brush up.

I took gen chem 4 years before Ochem and my class rank was #3/200+ and #1/100+ in 1st and 2nd semester.

It would be like brushing up on biology before taking genetics.

Instead, buy Ochem as a 2nd language and brush up on Ochem.🙂

If you need to read up on a few topics use the internet (wikipedia or whatever). It would be a serious waste of time to develop Gen Chem skills before Ochem. Focus on Ochem skills, they are not the same. The amount of Gen Chem used in ochem can be learned in 60 min on the internet, so just approach it as it comes in ochem.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Cool. I had no idea that the amount of general chemistry information involved in organic chemistry was so minimal. Good to know. 🙂

 

[EETTOMD]

Hello! I am an Electrical Engineer and took Gen Chem I and II about 5 years back. I am planning to take Organic Chem I @ Harvard Extension School coming Fall. I have been pondering about gen chem too, and was contemplating retaking gen chem 2 during this spring to brush up before I take orgo. From this conversation it seems that a semester of self -study should be enough.
So I should be on the right path then with this plan. What say you? Also, I found a chem book online for about 9$ (used ofcourse) called Chemistry: The molecular Science by Moore. Any input on this? Or any other suggestion. I am using the general chemistry as a second language also, but this book more concentrated on problem solving rather than the fundamentals.
Thanks a lot. Really appreciated.

BTW, ArkansasRanger, I am a UofA@ Fayetteville Alum. Big Razorback fan.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Hello! I am an Electrical Engineer and took Gen Chem I and II about 5 years back. I am planning to take Organic Chem I @ Harvard Extension School coming Fall. I have been pondering about gen chem too, and was contemplating retaking gen chem 2 during this spring to brush up before I take orgo. From this conversation it seems that a semester of self -study should be enough.
So I should be on the right path then with this plan. What say you? Also, I found a chem book online for about 9$ (used ofcourse) called Chemistry: The molecular Science by Moore. Any input on this? Or any other suggestion. I am using the general chemistry as a second language also, but this book more concentrated on problem solving rather than the fundamentals.
Thanks a lot. Really appreciated.

BTW, ArkansasRanger, I am a UofA@ Fayetteville Alum. Big Razorback fan.

Good to meet you. You're about the fourth Hog fan I've met on here. 👍

Had to add... Anything with "molceular science" in the title doesn't seem like it'd be a good catch up book, lol. But that's just me. 😉

 

[mzblue]

I have the ochem as a 2nd language books and judging the content of those books, i'd say get the chemistry as a 2nd language books. It's written by the same author and he's really good at explaining stuff.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Ok, thanks. I went ahead and ordered all three off Amazon. I've seen some other good recs pertaining to the second language book.

For anyone who happens to stumble onto this thread send me a PM, and I'll give you my reviews of the books once I get time to dig into them.

 

[murfettie]

berkeley review.

 

[Jlaw]

The American Chemical Society (ACS) makes study guides for Gen Chem and Organic. They are basically review books with practice tests and problems that are walked through step by step. They cover pretty much all the subject matter for the entire year long class.

This obviously isn't MCAT specific but would be helpful to review the basic concepts. You can buy them for like $20/each including shipping.

 

[ForrestG]

Schaum's Outline of College Chemistry was recommended to me by my advisor.

I didn't actually use it because "They" made me retake chem 2 (long story), but it looks great on my shelf and I'll probably refer to it for MCAT review, since I sold back my course text.