Introductory Chemistry Study Guide

Beware, there are two versions of Tro's Introductory Book. One version, "Introductory Chemistry" has 19 chapters. The other is a shortened version, "Introductory Chemistry, Essentials" and is missing the last few chapters. The shortened version is cheaper and is published for curriculum that does not cover the organic and biochemistry topics. Both books have a similar cover. The publisher provides the Mastering Chemistry Access code free with books purchased directly from Pearson. Not all books are sold with a Mastering Chemistry Access code. Neither are all books sold with the CD Rom which contains ancillary material.

This textbook is a well laid out introductory to chemistry. There are illustrations which backup the text as you read each chapter. It also provide step by step examples of how to solve chemical problems, using a technique called solution maps. After each topic, there is what they call a unique skill-builder exercise, which test your understanding of the topic you have just read. Plus, there is additional information on how chemistry relates to us daily. This is just an overall good book. DO NOT hesitate to get it!.

I was very impressed with this book. All of the fundamental concepts of chemistry are explained clearly, and the text is accompanied by numerous illustrations, real-world examples, and applications to make everything as clear as possible to the student. Whenever a new type of chemistry problem is presented, numerous examples are given of how to solve it. Students are guided through one or (usually) more examples before being asked to solve a type of problem on their own, and the answers to all odd-numbered exercises are in the back of the book. I got this book to study on my own to prepare for a return to school to enter a science program. Though I had no teacher to guide me, I still found it very clear and easy to understand, and was able to do most of the end-of-chapter problems with no great difficulty, thanks to the clarity of presentation in the text. I did have a slight background in chemistry, which was helpful, though I was more than a decade removed from my single semester of high school chemisty. I give this book the lion's share of the credit for the fact that I was able to score 87% on the University of Minnesota's chemistry placement test. If I could do well with this book with no teacher, I'm confident that anyone at all can do great in a chemistry class based on this book with a teacher to help. It takes plenty of effort too, that goes without saying. Chemistry is no simple topic. But for introducing a complex topic in a clear, informative, and interesting way, I don't see how this book could be improved upon. I'm excited to pursue a science degree and further my knowledge of chemistry, and this book was a huge help in getting me on my way. I recommend it wholeheartedly. P.S. Apparently a CD is available for this book. Mine didn't come with one though I bought it from the university bookstore. Not having it was not a problem, though; the text is clear enough. Don't worry if you can't find the CD.

Great textbook, it really helped me learn what I needed to for school. I still hate the class though.

Excellent job of explaining basics of chemistry. The book is the written equivalent of getting a lot of hands-on lab time. By understanding the many examples, and attempting the numerous problem sets, you should get a very good understanding of crucial topics like basic stoichoimetry.None of the topics are especially hard, as presented here. Some of you may recall the various Schaum's Outline series of books, which are basically just big bundles of questions, wrapped in a skimpy explanatory framework. This book is a significant improvement over that approach.