Basic Chemistry

Some printings include access code card, "Mastering Chemistry."

Chemistry can be a daunting subject for the uninitiated, and all too often, introductory textbooks do little to make students feel at ease with the complex subject matter. Basic Chemistry Concepts and Exercises brings the wisdom of John Kenkel’s more than 35 years of teaching experience to communicate the fundamentals of chemistry in a practical, down-to-earth manner. Using conversational language and logically assembled graphics, the book concisely introduces each topic without overwhelming students with unnecessary detail. Example problems and end-of-chapter questions emphasize repetition of concepts, preparing students to become adept at the basics before they progress to an advanced general chemistry course. Enhanced with visualization techniques such as the first chapter’s mythical microscope, the book clarifies challenging, abstract ideas and stimulates curiosity into what can otherwise be an overwhelming topic. Topics discussed in this reader-friendly text include: Properties and structure of matter Atoms, molecules, and compounds The Periodic Table Atomic weight, formula weights, and moles Gases and solutions Chemical equilibrium Acids, bases, and pH Organic chemicals The appendix contains answers to the homework exercises so students can check their work and receive instant feedback as to whether they have adequately grasped the concepts before moving on to the next section. Designed to help students embrace chemistry not with trepidation, but with confidence, this solid preparatory text forms a firm foundation for more advanced chemistry training.

Encompasses many different topics in and approaches to introductory chemistry. Discusses broad areas of chemistry including organic chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, and industrial chemistry. Historical developments of chemical concepts are covered, and biographical information is provided on key individuals responsible for the development of modern chemistry.

Emphasises on contemporary applications and an intuitive problem-solving approach that helps students discover the exciting potential of chemical science. This book incorporates fresh applications from the three major areas of modern research: materials, environmental chemistry, and biological science.

Written for students taking either the University of Cambridge O-level examinations or the GCSE examinations, this guidebook covers essential topics and concepts under stipulated chemistry syllabi. The topics are explored through an explanatory and inquiry-based approach. They are interrelated and easy to understand, with succinct explanations/examples being included, especially on areas that students frequently find difficult. Topics address the whys and hows behind key concepts to be mastered, so that the concepts are made understandable and intuitive for students. The focus is on conceptual learning so as to equip students with knowledge for critical learning and problem solving. The authors have also retained the popular discourse feature from their previous four books — Understanding Advanced Physical Inorganic Chemistry, Understanding Advanced Organic and Analytical Chemistry, Understanding Advanced Chemistry Through Problem Solving, and Understanding Basic Chemistry — to help the learners better understand and see for themselves, how the concepts should be applied during problems solving. Based on the Socratic Method, questions are implanted throughout the book to help facilitate the reader's development in forming logical conclusions of concepts and the way they are being applied to explain the problems. In addition, the authors have also included important summaries and concept maps to help the learners to recall, remember, reinforce and apply the fundamental chemical concepts in a simple way. Through their many years of teaching experiences, the authors have acquired a sound awareness of common students' misconceptions which are relayed through the questions and thus help to reinforce concepts learnt. This book is essential and useful to help students adequately prepare for the high-stake examinations.

This book is the revised edition of Understanding Basic Chemistry Through Problem Solving published in 2015. It is in a series of Understanding Chemistry books, which deals with Basic Chemistry using the problem solving approach. Written for students taking either the university of Cambridge O-level examinations or the GCSE examinations, this guidebook covers essential topics and concepts under both stipulated chemistry syllabi. The book is written in such a way as to guide the reader through the understanding and applications of essential chemical concepts using the problem solving approach. The authors have also retained the popular discourse feature from their previous few books — Understanding Advanced Physical Inorganic Chemistry, Understanding Advanced Organic and Analytical Chemistry, Understanding Advanced Chemistry Through Problem Solving, and Understanding Basic Chemistry — to help the learners better understand and see for themselves, how the concepts should be applied during solving problems. Based on the Socratic Method, questions are implanted throughout the book to help facilitate the reader's development in forming logical conclusions of concepts and the way they are being applied to explain the problems. In addition, the authors have also included important summaries and concept maps to help the learners to recall, remember, reinforce and apply the fundamental chemical concepts in a simple way. Request Inspection Copy

EDITIONS: This book is available in paperback in 5.5" x 8.5" (portable size), 8.5" x 11" (large size), and as an eBook. This 5.5" x 8.5" edition is the most portable, while the details of the figures - including the periodic tables - are most clear in the large size and large print edition. However, the paperback editions are in black-and-white, whereas the eBooks are in color. OVERVIEW: This book focuses on fundamental chemistry concepts, such as understanding the periodic table of the elements and how chemical bonds are formed. No prior knowledge of chemistry is assumed. The mathematical component involves only basic arithmetic. The content is much more conceptual than mathematical. AUDIENCE: It is geared toward helping anyone - student or not - to understand the main ideas of chemistry. Both students and non-students may find it helpful to be able to focus on understanding the main concepts without the constant emphasis on computations that is generally found in chemistry lectures and textbooks. CONTENTS: (1) Understanding the organization of the periodic table, including trends and patterns. (2) Understanding ionic and covalent bonds and how they are formed, including the structure of valence electrons. (3) A set of rules to follow to speak the language of chemistry fluently: How to name compounds when different types of compounds follow different naming schemes. (4) Understanding chemical reactions, including how to balance them and a survey of important reactions. (5) Understanding the three phases of matter: properties of matter, amorphous and crystalline solids, ideal gases, liquids, solutions, and acids/bases. (6) Understanding atomic and nuclear structure and how it relates to chemistry. (7) VErBAl ReAcTiONS: A brief fun diversion from science for the verbal side of the brain, using symbols from chemistry's periodic table to make word puzzles. ANSWERS: Every chapter includes self-check exercises to offer practice and help the reader check his or her understanding. 100% of the exercises have answers at the back of the book. COPYRIGHT: Teachers who purchase one copy of this book or borrow one copy of this book from a library may reproduce selected pages for the purpose of teaching chemistry concepts to their own students.