Truly Organic!, 06 Jan 2008
I bought this book in January 2007 for my MChem course at a much higher price (£59.99) from a well known University bookshop. Although I paid way too much for it I have to say it's the best investment I ever made as I found it to be very useful throughout the duration of my Masters. The book starts off in a very basic to almost A Level standard manner. The reader does not have to have any prior understanding of organic chemistry as the book begins with a section on "What is organic chemistry" and then leads onto organic structures and how to determine structures using different spectroscopic instruments. In total there are 53 chapters which include: Organic reactions, Delocalisation and conjugation, Acidity, Basicity and pKa, Equilibria, Stereochemistry, Retrosynthetic analysis, Fragmentation, Radical reactions, Asymmetric synthesis, Organometallic chemistry and Polymerization. This book helped me score 89% on my Masters. I'm now in my 1st year of my Chemistry PhD and I'm still referring to it! I would recommend every organic chemist (whether undergrad, postgrad or even postdoc) to own a copy of this book. It's a truly organic gem!!!

Best Organic Chem Book there is!, 30 Jul 2007

I bought this book for my undergraduate days, I dont know any better organic book as it has everything in right from the begining to more advanced concepts. Organic Chemistry is also well written and well illustrated as well.

If you go into organic chemistry or pharaceuticals, dont sell this book as it is all you will ever need!

Incredible book!, 01 Jul 2007
I am a high school student who made use of this book (and others) while preparing for my interview at the university of Oxford.

This book has thoroughly enhanced my understanding in the (broad!) field of organic chemistry.
The visual aspect of the book is outstanding. All reactions are coloured so as to emphasize on certain bonds and atoms in the molecules. There are continuous suggestions for students to compare certain reactions with others previously studied.
The content spans over 50 chapters. Unlike older texts where the division is made according to functional groups: (Chapter 1: alkanes, chapter 2: alkenes .....) this book instead classifies each chapter according to reaction types (nucleophilic, electrophilic substitution; nucleophilic, electrophilic addition; elimination E1, elimination E2 etc).

The text never digresses badly, and it always keeps in mind that it is a (high-school, college etc.) student reading.

I recommend this textbook to anyone interested in the field of organic chemistry.

The best undergraduate organic chemistry book ever written, 28 Aug 2006
This book manages to present the fundamentals of organic chemistry in such an engaging and clear manner that it is an absolute joy to use.

The questions reinforce the material wonderfully and provide a steady learning curve, first building confidence and then stretching the student.

The companion solutions text is definately also worth considering if you are using this book as a tutorial.

All in all, one of the best books you will come across as a student of chemistry.

Definitely worth the money, 20 Aug 2005
If you are serious about learning organic chemistry then go direct to the source. Stuart Warren and his fellow authors have really done a good job with this undergraduate level text.

The book is clearly laid out in sections with good use of colour and diagrams.

There is a glut of books on organic chemistry on the market but not all are as clear and accessible as this one.

Do yourself a favour and get this book and the solutions manual to go with it.

Truly Organic!, 06 Jan 2008
I bought this book in January 2007 for my MChem course at a much higher price (£59.99) from a well known University bookshop. Although I paid way too much for it I have to say it's the best investment I ever made as I found it to be very useful throughout the duration of my Masters. The book starts off in a very basic to almost A Level standard manner. The reader does not have to have any prior understanding of organic chemistry as the book begins with a section on "What is organic chemistry" and then leads onto organic structures and how to determine structures using different spectroscopic instruments. In total there are 53 chapters which include: Organic reactions, Delocalisation and conjugation, Acidity, Basicity and pKa, Equilibria, Stereochemistry, Retrosynthetic analysis, Fragmentation, Radical reactions, Asymmetric synthesis, Organometallic chemistry and Polymerization. This book helped me score 89% on my Masters. I'm now in my 1st year of my Chemistry PhD and I'm still referring to it! I would recommend every organic chemist (whether undergrad, postgrad or even postdoc) to own a copy of this book. It's a truly organic gem!!!

Best Organic Chem Book there is!, 30 Jul 2007

I bought this book for my undergraduate days, I dont know any better organic book as it has everything in right from the begining to more advanced concepts. Organic Chemistry is also well written and well illustrated as well.

If you go into organic chemistry or pharaceuticals, dont sell this book as it is all you will ever need!

Incredible book!, 01 Jul 2007
I am a high school student who made use of this book (and others) while preparing for my interview at the university of Oxford.

This book has thoroughly enhanced my understanding in the (broad!) field of organic chemistry.
The visual aspect of the book is outstanding. All reactions are coloured so as to emphasize on certain bonds and atoms in the molecules. There are continuous suggestions for students to compare certain reactions with others previously studied.
The content spans over 50 chapters. Unlike older texts where the division is made according to functional groups: (Chapter 1: alkanes, chapter 2: alkenes .....) this book instead classifies each chapter according to reaction types (nucleophilic, electrophilic substitution; nucleophilic, electrophilic addition; elimination E1, elimination E2 etc).

The text never digresses badly, and it always keeps in mind that it is a (high-school, college etc.) student reading.

I recommend this textbook to anyone interested in the field of organic chemistry.

The best undergraduate organic chemistry book ever written, 28 Aug 2006
This book manages to present the fundamentals of organic chemistry in such an engaging and clear manner that it is an absolute joy to use.

The questions reinforce the material wonderfully and provide a steady learning curve, first building confidence and then stretching the student.

The companion solutions text is definately also worth considering if you are using this book as a tutorial.

All in all, one of the best books you will come across as a student of chemistry.

Definitely worth the money, 20 Aug 2005
If you are serious about learning organic chemistry then go direct to the source. Stuart Warren and his fellow authors have really done a good job with this undergraduate level text.

The book is clearly laid out in sections with good use of colour and diagrams.

There is a glut of books on organic chemistry on the market but not all are as clear and accessible as this one.

Do yourself a favour and get this book and the solutions manual to go with it.

Excellent, 12 Nov 2003
I use this book for my AS Level chemistry. It is not suitable for use on it's own but is an excellent supplement to a textbook. It has all the information you need, but not in as much detail as a main textbook.

Easy to understand, 01 Sep 2002
This is the best AQA revision book available. The rest of the books in the series are also worth buying. They contain a large amount of content but are small enough to read through for last minute revision. They helped me to get a grade A in my chemistry AS. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone studying the AQA syllabus.

An excellent guide-book for this module, 16 Mar 2002
The book covers the bare essentials for this chemistry module. Although it does not go into substantial detail, it is excellent as a quick reference and is also very useful for "last-minute" cramming

Small, concise and friendly looking but with plenty detail., 07 Mar 2002
The book is perfect for revision. I found it really great that it was specific only to my sylabus because it meant there were no extra pages to wade through. Although i am aware some books tell you which parts you need to look at for each specification i prefered a book catering for only one examining board because it kept content down to a minimum making it look less threatening and much more approachable! The modular format also really helped with this, i'd suggest you get the whole set! The content is easy to understand and in easily enough detail. The books do contain colour and highlighted text but not many different colours (generally just black, one bright colour and shades of gray) which i liked beaucse i find some revision books overwhelming and confusing due to them overdoing it on the colour! All in all, a very helpful revision aid.

Want to pass this exam? Buy this book!, 25 Feb 2002
It's official - whoever had the idea for this series of Collins revision guides is a genius. Why? Well, read on......
These guides are written specifically for the AQA Chemistry syllabus. Many revision guides are written for the general subject of Chemistry - however, there are differences between the different exam boards, and so using a syllabus specific revision guide ensures you are learning all of the material you need to know - and are not wasting time learning things not on your syllabus.
Plus, these provide clearly worked examples of the sorts of questions you get asked not only in exams, but also for your homework - which comes in useful! There is also a mock paper - taken form the AQA resource pack - and a detailed answer scheme, so you can really test your knowledge.
If that isn't enough to convince you that you should buy this immediately, this guide is also written really clearly, using bullet points, tables and margin notes to ensure you understand every topic fully, and each section is clearly referenced to the syllabus, so you can make revision notes really easily and quickly.
Still not convinced? Well - my chemistry teacher was so impressed with it, he's planning to buy a complete set for his class next year!
If you really want to do well in Chemistry......my advice? Buy this now!

Truly Organic!, 06 Jan 2008
I bought this book in January 2007 for my MChem course at a much higher price (£59.99) from a well known University bookshop. Although I paid way too much for it I have to say it's the best investment I ever made as I found it to be very useful throughout the duration of my Masters. The book starts off in a very basic to almost A Level standard manner. The reader does not have to have any prior understanding of organic chemistry as the book begins with a section on "What is organic chemistry" and then leads onto organic structures and how to determine structures using different spectroscopic instruments. In total there are 53 chapters which include: Organic reactions, Delocalisation and conjugation, Acidity, Basicity and pKa, Equilibria, Stereochemistry, Retrosynthetic analysis, Fragmentation, Radical reactions, Asymmetric synthesis, Organometallic chemistry and Polymerization. This book helped me score 89% on my Masters. I'm now in my 1st year of my Chemistry PhD and I'm still referring to it! I would recommend every organic chemist (whether undergrad, postgrad or even postdoc) to own a copy of this book. It's a truly organic gem!!!

Best Organic Chem Book there is!, 30 Jul 2007

I bought this book for my undergraduate days, I dont know any better organic book as it has everything in right from the begining to more advanced concepts. Organic Chemistry is also well written and well illustrated as well.

If you go into organic chemistry or pharaceuticals, dont sell this book as it is all you will ever need!

Incredible book!, 01 Jul 2007
I am a high school student who made use of this book (and others) while preparing for my interview at the university of Oxford.

This book has thoroughly enhanced my understanding in the (broad!) field of organic chemistry.
The visual aspect of the book is outstanding. All reactions are coloured so as to emphasize on certain bonds and atoms in the molecules. There are continuous suggestions for students to compare certain reactions with others previously studied.
The content spans over 50 chapters. Unlike older texts where the division is made according to functional groups: (Chapter 1: alkanes, chapter 2: alkenes .....) this book instead classifies each chapter according to reaction types (nucleophilic, electrophilic substitution; nucleophilic, electrophilic addition; elimination E1, elimination E2 etc).

The text never digresses badly, and it always keeps in mind that it is a (high-school, college etc.) student reading.

I recommend this textbook to anyone interested in the field of organic chemistry.

The best undergraduate organic chemistry book ever written, 28 Aug 2006
This book manages to present the fundamentals of organic chemistry in such an engaging and clear manner that it is an absolute joy to use.

The questions reinforce the material wonderfully and provide a steady learning curve, first building confidence and then stretching the student.

The companion solutions text is definately also worth considering if you are using this book as a tutorial.

All in all, one of the best books you will come across as a student of chemistry.

Definitely worth the money, 20 Aug 2005
If you are serious about learning organic chemistry then go direct to the source. Stuart Warren and his fellow authors have really done a good job with this undergraduate level text.

The book is clearly laid out in sections with good use of colour and diagrams.

There is a glut of books on organic chemistry on the market but not all are as clear and accessible as this one.

Do yourself a favour and get this book and the solutions manual to go with it.

Excellent, 12 Nov 2003
I use this book for my AS Level chemistry. It is not suitable for use on it's own but is an excellent supplement to a textbook. It has all the information you need, but not in as much detail as a main textbook.

Easy to understand, 01 Sep 2002
This is the best AQA revision book available. The rest of the books in the series are also worth buying. They contain a large amount of content but are small enough to read through for last minute revision. They helped me to get a grade A in my chemistry AS. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone studying the AQA syllabus.

An excellent guide-book for this module, 16 Mar 2002
The book covers the bare essentials for this chemistry module. Although it does not go into substantial detail, it is excellent as a quick reference and is also very useful for "last-minute" cramming

Small, concise and friendly looking but with plenty detail., 07 Mar 2002
The book is perfect for revision. I found it really great that it was specific only to my sylabus because it meant there were no extra pages to wade through. Although i am aware some books tell you which parts you need to look at for each specification i prefered a book catering for only one examining board because it kept content down to a minimum making it look less threatening and much more approachable! The modular format also really helped with this, i'd suggest you get the whole set! The content is easy to understand and in easily enough detail. The books do contain colour and highlighted text but not many different colours (generally just black, one bright colour and shades of gray) which i liked beaucse i find some revision books overwhelming and confusing due to them overdoing it on the colour! All in all, a very helpful revision aid.

Want to pass this exam? Buy this book!, 25 Feb 2002
It's official - whoever had the idea for this series of Collins revision guides is a genius. Why? Well, read on......
These guides are written specifically for the AQA Chemistry syllabus. Many revision guides are written for the general subject of Chemistry - however, there are differences between the different exam boards, and so using a syllabus specific revision guide ensures you are learning all of the material you need to know - and are not wasting time learning things not on your syllabus.
Plus, these provide clearly worked examples of the sorts of questions you get asked not only in exams, but also for your homework - which comes in useful! There is also a mock paper - taken form the AQA resource pack - and a detailed answer scheme, so you can really test your knowledge.
If that isn't enough to convince you that you should buy this immediately, this guide is also written really clearly, using bullet points, tables and margin notes to ensure you understand every topic fully, and each section is clearly referenced to the syllabus, so you can make revision notes really easily and quickly.
Still not convinced? Well - my chemistry teacher was so impressed with it, he's planning to buy a complete set for his class next year!
If you really want to do well in Chemistry......my advice? Buy this now!

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

Truly Organic!, 06 Jan 2008
I bought this book in January 2007 for my MChem course at a much higher price (£59.99) from a well known University bookshop. Although I paid way too much for it I have to say it's the best investment I ever made as I found it to be very useful throughout the duration of my Masters. The book starts off in a very basic to almost A Level standard manner. The reader does not have to have any prior understanding of organic chemistry as the book begins with a section on "What is organic chemistry" and then leads onto organic structures and how to determine structures using different spectroscopic instruments. In total there are 53 chapters which include: Organic reactions, Delocalisation and conjugation, Acidity, Basicity and pKa, Equilibria, Stereochemistry, Retrosynthetic analysis, Fragmentation, Radical reactions, Asymmetric synthesis, Organometallic chemistry and Polymerization. This book helped me score 89% on my Masters. I'm now in my 1st year of my Chemistry PhD and I'm still referring to it! I would recommend every organic chemist (whether undergrad, postgrad or even postdoc) to own a copy of this book. It's a truly organic gem!!!

Best Organic Chem Book there is!, 30 Jul 2007

I bought this book for my undergraduate days, I dont know any better organic book as it has everything in right from the begining to more advanced concepts. Organic Chemistry is also well written and well illustrated as well.

If you go into organic chemistry or pharaceuticals, dont sell this book as it is all you will ever need!

Incredible book!, 01 Jul 2007
I am a high school student who made use of this book (and others) while preparing for my interview at the university of Oxford.

This book has thoroughly enhanced my understanding in the (broad!) field of organic chemistry.
The visual aspect of the book is outstanding. All reactions are coloured so as to emphasize on certain bonds and atoms in the molecules. There are continuous suggestions for students to compare certain reactions with others previously studied.
The content spans over 50 chapters. Unlike older texts where the division is made according to functional groups: (Chapter 1: alkanes, chapter 2: alkenes .....) this book instead classifies each chapter according to reaction types (nucleophilic, electrophilic substitution; nucleophilic, electrophilic addition; elimination E1, elimination E2 etc).

The text never digresses badly, and it always keeps in mind that it is a (high-school, college etc.) student reading.

I recommend this textbook to anyone interested in the field of organic chemistry.

The best undergraduate organic chemistry book ever written, 28 Aug 2006
This book manages to present the fundamentals of organic chemistry in such an engaging and clear manner that it is an absolute joy to use.

The questions reinforce the material wonderfully and provide a steady learning curve, first building confidence and then stretching the student.

The companion solutions text is definately also worth considering if you are using this book as a tutorial.

All in all, one of the best books you will come across as a student of chemistry.

Definitely worth the money, 20 Aug 2005
If you are serious about learning organic chemistry then go direct to the source. Stuart Warren and his fellow authors have really done a good job with this undergraduate level text.

The book is clearly laid out in sections with good use of colour and diagrams.

There is a glut of books on organic chemistry on the market but not all are as clear and accessible as this one.

Do yourself a favour and get this book and the solutions manual to go with it.

Excellent, 12 Nov 2003
I use this book for my AS Level chemistry. It is not suitable for use on it's own but is an excellent supplement to a textbook. It has all the information you need, but not in as much detail as a main textbook.

Easy to understand, 01 Sep 2002
This is the best AQA revision book available. The rest of the books in the series are also worth buying. They contain a large amount of content but are small enough to read through for last minute revision. They helped me to get a grade A in my chemistry AS. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone studying the AQA syllabus.

An excellent guide-book for this module, 16 Mar 2002
The book covers the bare essentials for this chemistry module. Although it does not go into substantial detail, it is excellent as a quick reference and is also very useful for "last-minute" cramming

Small, concise and friendly looking but with plenty detail., 07 Mar 2002
The book is perfect for revision. I found it really great that it was specific only to my sylabus because it meant there were no extra pages to wade through. Although i am aware some books tell you which parts you need to look at for each specification i prefered a book catering for only one examining board because it kept content down to a minimum making it look less threatening and much more approachable! The modular format also really helped with this, i'd suggest you get the whole set! The content is easy to understand and in easily enough detail. The books do contain colour and highlighted text but not many different colours (generally just black, one bright colour and shades of gray) which i liked beaucse i find some revision books overwhelming and confusing due to them overdoing it on the colour! All in all, a very helpful revision aid.

Want to pass this exam? Buy this book!, 25 Feb 2002
It's official - whoever had the idea for this series of Collins revision guides is a genius. Why? Well, read on......
These guides are written specifically for the AQA Chemistry syllabus. Many revision guides are written for the general subject of Chemistry - however, there are differences between the different exam boards, and so using a syllabus specific revision guide ensures you are learning all of the material you need to know - and are not wasting time learning things not on your syllabus.
Plus, these provide clearly worked examples of the sorts of questions you get asked not only in exams, but also for your homework - which comes in useful! There is also a mock paper - taken form the AQA resource pack - and a detailed answer scheme, so you can really test your knowledge.
If that isn't enough to convince you that you should buy this immediately, this guide is also written really clearly, using bullet points, tables and margin notes to ensure you understand every topic fully, and each section is clearly referenced to the syllabus, so you can make revision notes really easily and quickly.
Still not convinced? Well - my chemistry teacher was so impressed with it, he's planning to buy a complete set for his class next year!
If you really want to do well in Chemistry......my advice? Buy this now!

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

An excellent breif overview, 03 Feb 2006
A very good introduction into a field of interest to many different disciplines. Its appeal to such a variety of scientific backgrounds means that it lacks specific detail to some. Its ability to spark the imagination and unifty concepts is powerful. The third edition (2005) offers a breif but essential summery of relevant key concepts within my own background, theoretical and computational chemistry, despite some matieral quickly being outdated. The rest of the book offered an intriguing insight into the minds of collegues within the drug development industry. Suitible to undergraduates, this text is an invaluble introduction to broad range of exciting fields.

Average, 13 Jun 2005
This book is generally ok - topics are sufficiently well explained with some good examples. Probably quite good value for money and you probably wouldn't be disappointed with it. For a little more money though you can get a real classic in this field - "The Organic Chemsitry of Drug Design and Drug Action" by Silverman which contains a wealth of information about drug interaction and is so readable and very clear to understand. If you want to just get buy on a budget then buy this - if you really want to know your stuff for a little extra then go for Silverman's book.

An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry (2nd Edition), 14 Nov 2003
It's a good textbook for a chemistry student who needs to know a little bit of every branches of his studies, but the level is not enough high if you want to understand the biochemical processes completely.

Great book for those studying medicinal chemistry!, 01 Jan 2003
For the topics the book covers - it certainly does well! It is easy to follow and understand. The diagrams are clear and helpful - espcially in the opiates chapter. It is generally a useful resource in furthering your understanding of this subject!

However, if I should have one critisism - it certainly doesn't and wouldn't be able to cover everything.. Noticeably it lacks information on certain receptor groups. It also doesn't cover in depth possible chemistry mechanisms, which I believe enhances understanding.

Overall though this is a useful book!

Truly Organic!, 06 Jan 2008
I bought this book in January 2007 for my MChem course at a much higher price (£59.99) from a well known University bookshop. Although I paid way too much for it I have to say it's the best investment I ever made as I found it to be very useful throughout the duration of my Masters. The book starts off in a very basic to almost A Level standard manner. The reader does not have to have any prior understanding of organic chemistry as the book begins with a section on "What is organic chemistry" and then leads onto organic structures and how to determine structures using different spectroscopic instruments. In total there are 53 chapters which include: Organic reactions, Delocalisation and conjugation, Acidity, Basicity and pKa, Equilibria, Stereochemistry, Retrosynthetic analysis, Fragmentation, Radical reactions, Asymmetric synthesis, Organometallic chemistry and Polymerization. This book helped me score 89% on my Masters. I'm now in my 1st year of my Chemistry PhD and I'm still referring to it! I would recommend every organic chemist (whether undergrad, postgrad or even postdoc) to own a copy of this book. It's a truly organic gem!!!

Best Organic Chem Book there is!, 30 Jul 2007

I bought this book for my undergraduate days, I dont know any better organic book as it has everything in right from the begining to more advanced concepts. Organic Chemistry is also well written and well illustrated as well.

If you go into organic chemistry or pharaceuticals, dont sell this book as it is all you will ever need!

Incredible book!, 01 Jul 2007
I am a high school student who made use of this book (and others) while preparing for my interview at the university of Oxford.

This book has thoroughly enhanced my understanding in the (broad!) field of organic chemistry.
The visual aspect of the book is outstanding. All reactions are coloured so as to emphasize on certain bonds and atoms in the molecules. There are continuous suggestions for students to compare certain reactions with others previously studied.
The content spans over 50 chapters. Unlike older texts where the division is made according to functional groups: (Chapter 1: alkanes, chapter 2: alkenes .....) this book instead classifies each chapter according to reaction types (nucleophilic, electrophilic substitution; nucleophilic, electrophilic addition; elimination E1, elimination E2 etc).

The text never digresses badly, and it always keeps in mind that it is a (high-school, college etc.) student reading.

I recommend this textbook to anyone interested in the field of organic chemistry.

The best undergraduate organic chemistry book ever written, 28 Aug 2006
This book manages to present the fundamentals of organic chemistry in such an engaging and clear manner that it is an absolute joy to use.

The questions reinforce the material wonderfully and provide a steady learning curve, first building confidence and then stretching the student.

The companion solutions text is definately also worth considering if you are using this book as a tutorial.

All in all, one of the best books you will come across as a student of chemistry.

Definitely worth the money, 20 Aug 2005
If you are serious about learning organic chemistry then go direct to the source. Stuart Warren and his fellow authors have really done a good job with this undergraduate level text.

The book is clearly laid out in sections with good use of colour and diagrams.

There is a glut of books on organic chemistry on the market but not all are as clear and accessible as this one.

Do yourself a favour and get this book and the solutions manual to go with it.

Excellent, 12 Nov 2003
I use this book for my AS Level chemistry. It is not suitable for use on it's own but is an excellent supplement to a textbook. It has all the information you need, but not in as much detail as a main textbook.

Easy to understand, 01 Sep 2002
This is the best AQA revision book available. The rest of the books in the series are also worth buying. They contain a large amount of content but are small enough to read through for last minute revision. They helped me to get a grade A in my chemistry AS. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone studying the AQA syllabus.

An excellent guide-book for this module, 16 Mar 2002
The book covers the bare essentials for this chemistry module. Although it does not go into substantial detail, it is excellent as a quick reference and is also very useful for "last-minute" cramming

Small, concise and friendly looking but with plenty detail., 07 Mar 2002
The book is perfect for revision. I found it really great that it was specific only to my sylabus because it meant there were no extra pages to wade through. Although i am aware some books tell you which parts you need to look at for each specification i prefered a book catering for only one examining board because it kept content down to a minimum making it look less threatening and much more approachable! The modular format also really helped with this, i'd suggest you get the whole set! The content is easy to understand and in easily enough detail. The books do contain colour and highlighted text but not many different colours (generally just black, one bright colour and shades of gray) which i liked beaucse i find some revision books overwhelming and confusing due to them overdoing it on the colour! All in all, a very helpful revision aid.

Want to pass this exam? Buy this book!, 25 Feb 2002
It's official - whoever had the idea for this series of Collins revision guides is a genius. Why? Well, read on......
These guides are written specifically for the AQA Chemistry syllabus. Many revision guides are written for the general subject of Chemistry - however, there are differences between the different exam boards, and so using a syllabus specific revision guide ensures you are learning all of the material you need to know - and are not wasting time learning things not on your syllabus.
Plus, these provide clearly worked examples of the sorts of questions you get asked not only in exams, but also for your homework - which comes in useful! There is also a mock paper - taken form the AQA resource pack - and a detailed answer scheme, so you can really test your knowledge.
If that isn't enough to convince you that you should buy this immediately, this guide is also written really clearly, using bullet points, tables and margin notes to ensure you understand every topic fully, and each section is clearly referenced to the syllabus, so you can make revision notes really easily and quickly.
Still not convinced? Well - my chemistry teacher was so impressed with it, he's planning to buy a complete set for his class next year!
If you really want to do well in Chemistry......my advice? Buy this now!

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

An excellent breif overview, 03 Feb 2006
A very good introduction into a field of interest to many different disciplines. Its appeal to such a variety of scientific backgrounds means that it lacks specific detail to some. Its ability to spark the imagination and unifty concepts is powerful. The third edition (2005) offers a breif but essential summery of relevant key concepts within my own background, theoretical and computational chemistry, despite some matieral quickly being outdated. The rest of the book offered an intriguing insight into the minds of collegues within the drug development industry. Suitible to undergraduates, this text is an invaluble introduction to broad range of exciting fields.

Average, 13 Jun 2005
This book is generally ok - topics are sufficiently well explained with some good examples. Probably quite good value for money and you probably wouldn't be disappointed with it. For a little more money though you can get a real classic in this field - "The Organic Chemsitry of Drug Design and Drug Action" by Silverman which contains a wealth of information about drug interaction and is so readable and very clear to understand. If you want to just get buy on a budget then buy this - if you really want to know your stuff for a little extra then go for Silverman's book.

An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry (2nd Edition), 14 Nov 2003
It's a good textbook for a chemistry student who needs to know a little bit of every branches of his studies, but the level is not enough high if you want to understand the biochemical processes completely.

Great book for those studying medicinal chemistry!, 01 Jan 2003
For the topics the book covers - it certainly does well! It is easy to follow and understand. The diagrams are clear and helpful - espcially in the opiates chapter. It is generally a useful resource in furthering your understanding of this subject!

However, if I should have one critisism - it certainly doesn't and wouldn't be able to cover everything.. Noticeably it lacks information on certain receptor groups. It also doesn't cover in depth possible chemistry mechanisms, which I believe enhances understanding.

Overall though this is a useful book!

why you should buy this book, 23 May 2003
This book is salvation for us poor chemists who spend hours looking in four thick chemistry text books for one snippet of information. It provides a good overview of all the topics and manages to link them all in a coherent manner. It is very well laid out and easy to use, and is cheaper than the average textbook.

Overall, despite the black and white illustrations, this book is anything but overbearing and would make an excellent introduction for any chemist or potential chemist.

A 'must read' for first year undergrads, 23 Apr 2003
This book gives an excellent explanation of the basic ideas in chemistry. It is different from most other chemistry books in that it brings together ideas from what are usually considered different areas of chemistry to give a reader friendly (thermodynamics without the maths!) explanation of, well, why chemical reactions happen. The topics covered by the authors are clearly presented with loads of diagrams and everyday examples to support the text. Emphasis is placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The book is aimed at first year undergraduates/those who are about to begin studying chemistry at university (and I would definitely recommend it as pre-university reading) however, I think it would also be of interest to a wider audience - even though I'm a chemistry graduate I found reading the book useful because it explained the basics more clearly than any other textbook I've read.

The basis for chemistry explained..., 13 Apr 2003
This book provides an excellent basis for the study of chemistry and is ideal for for those about to begin the first year of a chemistry degree. It brings together concepts from different areas of chemistry, ranging from thermodynamics to organic chemistry, to provide a comprehensive explanation of, well, why reactions happen.

I found the topics covered by the authors to be clearly presented and in a logical order, with excellent use of diagrams and examples to support the ideas discussed in the text. Emphasis is firmly placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The authors suggest that this book would be suitable for those who have just completed A-level chemistry or are first year undergraduates, however, I believe it would be of interest to a wider audience both as a teaching resource and for graduates who want to refresh their understanding of the basics. I found the book easy to read and useful as it reminded me of how I should think about the chemistry with which I am already familiar.

Truly Organic!, 06 Jan 2008
I bought this book in January 2007 for my MChem course at a much higher price (£59.99) from a well known University bookshop. Although I paid way too much for it I have to say it's the best investment I ever made as I found it to be very useful throughout the duration of my Masters. The book starts off in a very basic to almost A Level standard manner. The reader does not have to have any prior understanding of organic chemistry as the book begins with a section on "What is organic chemistry" and then leads onto organic structures and how to determine structures using different spectroscopic instruments. In total there are 53 chapters which include: Organic reactions, Delocalisation and conjugation, Acidity, Basicity and pKa, Equilibria, Stereochemistry, Retrosynthetic analysis, Fragmentation, Radical reactions, Asymmetric synthesis, Organometallic chemistry and Polymerization. This book helped me score 89% on my Masters. I'm now in my 1st year of my Chemistry PhD and I'm still referring to it! I would recommend every organic chemist (whether undergrad, postgrad or even postdoc) to own a copy of this book. It's a truly organic gem!!!

Best Organic Chem Book there is!, 30 Jul 2007

I bought this book for my undergraduate days, I dont know any better organic book as it has everything in right from the begining to more advanced concepts. Organic Chemistry is also well written and well illustrated as well.

If you go into organic chemistry or pharaceuticals, dont sell this book as it is all you will ever need!

Incredible book!, 01 Jul 2007
I am a high school student who made use of this book (and others) while preparing for my interview at the university of Oxford.

This book has thoroughly enhanced my understanding in the (broad!) field of organic chemistry.
The visual aspect of the book is outstanding. All reactions are coloured so as to emphasize on certain bonds and atoms in the molecules. There are continuous suggestions for students to compare certain reactions with others previously studied.
The content spans over 50 chapters. Unlike older texts where the division is made according to functional groups: (Chapter 1: alkanes, chapter 2: alkenes .....) this book instead classifies each chapter according to reaction types (nucleophilic, electrophilic substitution; nucleophilic, electrophilic addition; elimination E1, elimination E2 etc).

The text never digresses badly, and it always keeps in mind that it is a (high-school, college etc.) student reading.

I recommend this textbook to anyone interested in the field of organic chemistry.

The best undergraduate organic chemistry book ever written, 28 Aug 2006
This book manages to present the fundamentals of organic chemistry in such an engaging and clear manner that it is an absolute joy to use.

The questions reinforce the material wonderfully and provide a steady learning curve, first building confidence and then stretching the student.

The companion solutions text is definately also worth considering if you are using this book as a tutorial.

All in all, one of the best books you will come across as a student of chemistry.

Definitely worth the money, 20 Aug 2005
If you are serious about learning organic chemistry then go direct to the source. Stuart Warren and his fellow authors have really done a good job with this undergraduate level text.

The book is clearly laid out in sections with good use of colour and diagrams.

There is a glut of books on organic chemistry on the market but not all are as clear and accessible as this one.

Do yourself a favour and get this book and the solutions manual to go with it.

Excellent, 12 Nov 2003
I use this book for my AS Level chemistry. It is not suitable for use on it's own but is an excellent supplement to a textbook. It has all the information you need, but not in as much detail as a main textbook.

Easy to understand, 01 Sep 2002
This is the best AQA revision book available. The rest of the books in the series are also worth buying. They contain a large amount of content but are small enough to read through for last minute revision. They helped me to get a grade A in my chemistry AS. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone studying the AQA syllabus.

An excellent guide-book for this module, 16 Mar 2002
The book covers the bare essentials for this chemistry module. Although it does not go into substantial detail, it is excellent as a quick reference and is also very useful for "last-minute" cramming

Small, concise and friendly looking but with plenty detail., 07 Mar 2002
The book is perfect for revision. I found it really great that it was specific only to my sylabus because it meant there were no extra pages to wade through. Although i am aware some books tell you which parts you need to look at for each specification i prefered a book catering for only one examining board because it kept content down to a minimum making it look less threatening and much more approachable! The modular format also really helped with this, i'd suggest you get the whole set! The content is easy to understand and in easily enough detail. The books do contain colour and highlighted text but not many different colours (generally just black, one bright colour and shades of gray) which i liked beaucse i find some revision books overwhelming and confusing due to them overdoing it on the colour! All in all, a very helpful revision aid.

Want to pass this exam? Buy this book!, 25 Feb 2002
It's official - whoever had the idea for this series of Collins revision guides is a genius. Why? Well, read on......
These guides are written specifically for the AQA Chemistry syllabus. Many revision guides are written for the general subject of Chemistry - however, there are differences between the different exam boards, and so using a syllabus specific revision guide ensures you are learning all of the material you need to know - and are not wasting time learning things not on your syllabus.
Plus, these provide clearly worked examples of the sorts of questions you get asked not only in exams, but also for your homework - which comes in useful! There is also a mock paper - taken form the AQA resource pack - and a detailed answer scheme, so you can really test your knowledge.
If that isn't enough to convince you that you should buy this immediately, this guide is also written really clearly, using bullet points, tables and margin notes to ensure you understand every topic fully, and each section is clearly referenced to the syllabus, so you can make revision notes really easily and quickly.
Still not convinced? Well - my chemistry teacher was so impressed with it, he's planning to buy a complete set for his class next year!
If you really want to do well in Chemistry......my advice? Buy this now!

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

An excellent breif overview, 03 Feb 2006
A very good introduction into a field of interest to many different disciplines. Its appeal to such a variety of scientific backgrounds means that it lacks specific detail to some. Its ability to spark the imagination and unifty concepts is powerful. The third edition (2005) offers a breif but essential summery of relevant key concepts within my own background, theoretical and computational chemistry, despite some matieral quickly being outdated. The rest of the book offered an intriguing insight into the minds of collegues within the drug development industry. Suitible to undergraduates, this text is an invaluble introduction to broad range of exciting fields.

Average, 13 Jun 2005
This book is generally ok - topics are sufficiently well explained with some good examples. Probably quite good value for money and you probably wouldn't be disappointed with it. For a little more money though you can get a real classic in this field - "The Organic Chemsitry of Drug Design and Drug Action" by Silverman which contains a wealth of information about drug interaction and is so readable and very clear to understand. If you want to just get buy on a budget then buy this - if you really want to know your stuff for a little extra then go for Silverman's book.

An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry (2nd Edition), 14 Nov 2003
It's a good textbook for a chemistry student who needs to know a little bit of every branches of his studies, but the level is not enough high if you want to understand the biochemical processes completely.

Great book for those studying medicinal chemistry!, 01 Jan 2003
For the topics the book covers - it certainly does well! It is easy to follow and understand. The diagrams are clear and helpful - espcially in the opiates chapter. It is generally a useful resource in furthering your understanding of this subject!

However, if I should have one critisism - it certainly doesn't and wouldn't be able to cover everything.. Noticeably it lacks information on certain receptor groups. It also doesn't cover in depth possible chemistry mechanisms, which I believe enhances understanding.

Overall though this is a useful book!

why you should buy this book, 23 May 2003
This book is salvation for us poor chemists who spend hours looking in four thick chemistry text books for one snippet of information. It provides a good overview of all the topics and manages to link them all in a coherent manner. It is very well laid out and easy to use, and is cheaper than the average textbook.

Overall, despite the black and white illustrations, this book is anything but overbearing and would make an excellent introduction for any chemist or potential chemist.

A 'must read' for first year undergrads, 23 Apr 2003
This book gives an excellent explanation of the basic ideas in chemistry. It is different from most other chemistry books in that it brings together ideas from what are usually considered different areas of chemistry to give a reader friendly (thermodynamics without the maths!) explanation of, well, why chemical reactions happen. The topics covered by the authors are clearly presented with loads of diagrams and everyday examples to support the text. Emphasis is placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The book is aimed at first year undergraduates/those who are about to begin studying chemistry at university (and I would definitely recommend it as pre-university reading) however, I think it would also be of interest to a wider audience - even though I'm a chemistry graduate I found reading the book useful because it explained the basics more clearly than any other textbook I've read.

The basis for chemistry explained..., 13 Apr 2003
This book provides an excellent basis for the study of chemistry and is ideal for for those about to begin the first year of a chemistry degree. It brings together concepts from different areas of chemistry, ranging from thermodynamics to organic chemistry, to provide a comprehensive explanation of, well, why reactions happen.

I found the topics covered by the authors to be clearly presented and in a logical order, with excellent use of diagrams and examples to support the ideas discussed in the text. Emphasis is firmly placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The authors suggest that this book would be suitable for those who have just completed A-level chemistry or are first year undergraduates, however, I believe it would be of interest to a wider audience both as a teaching resource and for graduates who want to refresh their understanding of the basics. I found the book easy to read and useful as it reminded me of how I should think about the chemistry with which I am already familiar.

Recommend for students struggling with organic chemistry., 23 Sep 2000
This primer concisely lays down the basic concepts required for a thorough understanding of organic chemistry, including those physical ones. Each concept is explained clearly and carefully with analogies and examples where necessary. There is a particular emphasis on identifying the common mechanistic themes between reactions, rather than the chemical differences between homologus series, as found in standard texts.

I would recommend this book to interested A-level (pre-university) and university students, especially those having difficulty in appreciating that organic chemistry is more than a wide array of unconnected reactions.

Truly Organic!, 06 Jan 2008
I bought this book in January 2007 for my MChem course at a much higher price (£59.99) from a well known University bookshop. Although I paid way too much for it I have to say it's the best investment I ever made as I found it to be very useful throughout the duration of my Masters. The book starts off in a very basic to almost A Level standard manner. The reader does not have to have any prior understanding of organic chemistry as the book begins with a section on "What is organic chemistry" and then leads onto organic structures and how to determine structures using different spectroscopic instruments. In total there are 53 chapters which include: Organic reactions, Delocalisation and conjugation, Acidity, Basicity and pKa, Equilibria, Stereochemistry, Retrosynthetic analysis, Fragmentation, Radical reactions, Asymmetric synthesis, Organometallic chemistry and Polymerization. This book helped me score 89% on my Masters. I'm now in my 1st year of my Chemistry PhD and I'm still referring to it! I would recommend every organic chemist (whether undergrad, postgrad or even postdoc) to own a copy of this book. It's a truly organic gem!!!

Best Organic Chem Book there is!, 30 Jul 2007

I bought this book for my undergraduate days, I dont know any better organic book as it has everything in right from the begining to more advanced concepts. Organic Chemistry is also well written and well illustrated as well.

If you go into organic chemistry or pharaceuticals, dont sell this book as it is all you will ever need!

Incredible book!, 01 Jul 2007
I am a high school student who made use of this book (and others) while preparing for my interview at the university of Oxford.

This book has thoroughly enhanced my understanding in the (broad!) field of organic chemistry.
The visual aspect of the book is outstanding. All reactions are coloured so as to emphasize on certain bonds and atoms in the molecules. There are continuous suggestions for students to compare certain reactions with others previously studied.
The content spans over 50 chapters. Unlike older texts where the division is made according to functional groups: (Chapter 1: alkanes, chapter 2: alkenes .....) this book instead classifies each chapter according to reaction types (nucleophilic, electrophilic substitution; nucleophilic, electrophilic addition; elimination E1, elimination E2 etc).

The text never digresses badly, and it always keeps in mind that it is a (high-school, college etc.) student reading.

I recommend this textbook to anyone interested in the field of organic chemistry.

The best undergraduate organic chemistry book ever written, 28 Aug 2006
This book manages to present the fundamentals of organic chemistry in such an engaging and clear manner that it is an absolute joy to use.

The questions reinforce the material wonderfully and provide a steady learning curve, first building confidence and then stretching the student.

The companion solutions text is definately also worth considering if you are using this book as a tutorial.

All in all, one of the best books you will come across as a student of chemistry.

Definitely worth the money, 20 Aug 2005
If you are serious about learning organic chemistry then go direct to the source. Stuart Warren and his fellow authors have really done a good job with this undergraduate level text.

The book is clearly laid out in sections with good use of colour and diagrams.

There is a glut of books on organic chemistry on the market but not all are as clear and accessible as this one.

Do yourself a favour and get this book and the solutions manual to go with it.

Excellent, 12 Nov 2003
I use this book for my AS Level chemistry. It is not suitable for use on it's own but is an excellent supplement to a textbook. It has all the information you need, but not in as much detail as a main textbook.

Easy to understand, 01 Sep 2002
This is the best AQA revision book available. The rest of the books in the series are also worth buying. They contain a large amount of content but are small enough to read through for last minute revision. They helped me to get a grade A in my chemistry AS. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone studying the AQA syllabus.

An excellent guide-book for this module, 16 Mar 2002
The book covers the bare essentials for this chemistry module. Although it does not go into substantial detail, it is excellent as a quick reference and is also very useful for "last-minute" cramming

Small, concise and friendly looking but with plenty detail., 07 Mar 2002
The book is perfect for revision. I found it really great that it was specific only to my sylabus because it meant there were no extra pages to wade through. Although i am aware some books tell you which parts you need to look at for each specification i prefered a book catering for only one examining board because it kept content down to a minimum making it look less threatening and much more approachable! The modular format also really helped with this, i'd suggest you get the whole set! The content is easy to understand and in easily enough detail. The books do contain colour and highlighted text but not many different colours (generally just black, one bright colour and shades of gray) which i liked beaucse i find some revision books overwhelming and confusing due to them overdoing it on the colour! All in all, a very helpful revision aid.

Want to pass this exam? Buy this book!, 25 Feb 2002
It's official - whoever had the idea for this series of Collins revision guides is a genius. Why? Well, read on......
These guides are written specifically for the AQA Chemistry syllabus. Many revision guides are written for the general subject of Chemistry - however, there are differences between the different exam boards, and so using a syllabus specific revision guide ensures you are learning all of the material you need to know - and are not wasting time learning things not on your syllabus.
Plus, these provide clearly worked examples of the sorts of questions you get asked not only in exams, but also for your homework - which comes in useful! There is also a mock paper - taken form the AQA resource pack - and a detailed answer scheme, so you can really test your knowledge.
If that isn't enough to convince you that you should buy this immediately, this guide is also written really clearly, using bullet points, tables and margin notes to ensure you understand every topic fully, and each section is clearly referenced to the syllabus, so you can make revision notes really easily and quickly.
Still not convinced? Well - my chemistry teacher was so impressed with it, he's planning to buy a complete set for his class next year!
If you really want to do well in Chemistry......my advice? Buy this now!

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

An excellent breif overview, 03 Feb 2006
A very good introduction into a field of interest to many different disciplines. Its appeal to such a variety of scientific backgrounds means that it lacks specific detail to some. Its ability to spark the imagination and unifty concepts is powerful. The third edition (2005) offers a breif but essential summery of relevant key concepts within my own background, theoretical and computational chemistry, despite some matieral quickly being outdated. The rest of the book offered an intriguing insight into the minds of collegues within the drug development industry. Suitible to undergraduates, this text is an invaluble introduction to broad range of exciting fields.

Average, 13 Jun 2005
This book is generally ok - topics are sufficiently well explained with some good examples. Probably quite good value for money and you probably wouldn't be disappointed with it. For a little more money though you can get a real classic in this field - "The Organic Chemsitry of Drug Design and Drug Action" by Silverman which contains a wealth of information about drug interaction and is so readable and very clear to understand. If you want to just get buy on a budget then buy this - if you really want to know your stuff for a little extra then go for Silverman's book.

An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry (2nd Edition), 14 Nov 2003
It's a good textbook for a chemistry student who needs to know a little bit of every branches of his studies, but the level is not enough high if you want to understand the biochemical processes completely.

Great book for those studying medicinal chemistry!, 01 Jan 2003
For the topics the book covers - it certainly does well! It is easy to follow and understand. The diagrams are clear and helpful - espcially in the opiates chapter. It is generally a useful resource in furthering your understanding of this subject!

However, if I should have one critisism - it certainly doesn't and wouldn't be able to cover everything.. Noticeably it lacks information on certain receptor groups. It also doesn't cover in depth possible chemistry mechanisms, which I believe enhances understanding.

Overall though this is a useful book!

why you should buy this book, 23 May 2003
This book is salvation for us poor chemists who spend hours looking in four thick chemistry text books for one snippet of information. It provides a good overview of all the topics and manages to link them all in a coherent manner. It is very well laid out and easy to use, and is cheaper than the average textbook.

Overall, despite the black and white illustrations, this book is anything but overbearing and would make an excellent introduction for any chemist or potential chemist.

A 'must read' for first year undergrads, 23 Apr 2003
This book gives an excellent explanation of the basic ideas in chemistry. It is different from most other chemistry books in that it brings together ideas from what are usually considered different areas of chemistry to give a reader friendly (thermodynamics without the maths!) explanation of, well, why chemical reactions happen. The topics covered by the authors are clearly presented with loads of diagrams and everyday examples to support the text. Emphasis is placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The book is aimed at first year undergraduates/those who are about to begin studying chemistry at university (and I would definitely recommend it as pre-university reading) however, I think it would also be of interest to a wider audience - even though I'm a chemistry graduate I found reading the book useful because it explained the basics more clearly than any other textbook I've read.

The basis for chemistry explained..., 13 Apr 2003
This book provides an excellent basis for the study of chemistry and is ideal for for those about to begin the first year of a chemistry degree. It brings together concepts from different areas of chemistry, ranging from thermodynamics to organic chemistry, to provide a comprehensive explanation of, well, why reactions happen.

I found the topics covered by the authors to be clearly presented and in a logical order, with excellent use of diagrams and examples to support the ideas discussed in the text. Emphasis is firmly placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The authors suggest that this book would be suitable for those who have just completed A-level chemistry or are first year undergraduates, however, I believe it would be of interest to a wider audience both as a teaching resource and for graduates who want to refresh their understanding of the basics. I found the book easy to read and useful as it reminded me of how I should think about the chemistry with which I am already familiar.

Recommend for students struggling with organic chemistry., 23 Sep 2000
This primer concisely lays down the basic concepts required for a thorough understanding of organic chemistry, including those physical ones. Each concept is explained clearly and carefully with analogies and examples where necessary. There is a particular emphasis on identifying the common mechanistic themes between reactions, rather than the chemical differences between homologus series, as found in standard texts.

I would recommend this book to interested A-level (pre-university) and university students, especially those having difficulty in appreciating that organic chemistry is more than a wide array of unconnected reactions.

Organic Chemistry at another level..., 29 Aug 2002
Retrosynthesis is an incredibly logical, but yet incredibly abstract concept. For somebody who has studied organic syntheses forward to then be told to switch into reverse is quite an effort. I was dreading it. I found this book in concert with the Warren, Wothers, Greeves and Clayden text book to break it down into a logical sequence of steps and train of thought. The examples given in this book are mostly drug molecules and natural products giving this book a very applied feeling, as ultimately that is the point of learning mechanisms. The explanations are concise, but simple. Well written, detailed and informative. This book does assume prior knowledge of organic chemistry at a fairly basic level (first or second year undergraduate).

Useful for improving synthetic chemistry skills, 25 Nov 2001
Working through "The disconnection approach" aids the user to gain useful analytical skills for synthetic chemistry as well as helping the user get a general feel for useful reactions used over and over again in organic sythesis.

This book facilitates the application of retrosynthesis, 03 Mar 1999
Retrosynthetic analysis is the process of developing a strategy for the synthesis of an a particular chemical (the target). The process essentially involves the repeated use of (known) useful patterns (the jargon is 'disconnection') until a potential viable synthetic procedure from available starting materials to the target is proposed/discovered.

E.J. Corey (Noebl prize winner in organic chemistry) first described a formal methodology for the retrosynthetic analysis in the 70's. That is, he described a strategy in which '(retro)synthesis patterns' could be applied. This was great work and others started to think in the same fashion after Corey published his ideas. However, the field really took off after the publication of this book in 1982. The reason for this is that Warren was able to teach others how to use(!) the retrosynthetic methodology. He did this by: 1) Knowing the skill level of his audience (3rd level univeristy student + post-graduate) 2) Highly structuring the material so that the reader progressively develops an understanding of the subject; and very importently 3) provide a number of very clear and useful examples (and an associated workbook completely filled with worked examples).

A great way to learn about this detailed subject. A classic!

Truly Organic!, 06 Jan 2008
I bought this book in January 2007 for my MChem course at a much higher price (£59.99) from a well known University bookshop. Although I paid way too much for it I have to say it's the best investment I ever made as I found it to be very useful throughout the duration of my Masters. The book starts off in a very basic to almost A Level standard manner. The reader does not have to have any prior understanding of organic chemistry as the book begins with a section on "What is organic chemistry" and then leads onto organic structures and how to determine structures using different spectroscopic instruments. In total there are 53 chapters which include: Organic reactions, Delocalisation and conjugation, Acidity, Basicity and pKa, Equilibria, Stereochemistry, Retrosynthetic analysis, Fragmentation, Radical reactions, Asymmetric synthesis, Organometallic chemistry and Polymerization. This book helped me score 89% on my Masters. I'm now in my 1st year of my Chemistry PhD and I'm still referring to it! I would recommend every organic chemist (whether undergrad, postgrad or even postdoc) to own a copy of this book. It's a truly organic gem!!!

Best Organic Chem Book there is!, 30 Jul 2007

I bought this book for my undergraduate days, I dont know any better organic book as it has everything in right from the begining to more advanced concepts. Organic Chemistry is also well written and well illustrated as well.

If you go into organic chemistry or pharaceuticals, dont sell this book as it is all you will ever need!

Incredible book!, 01 Jul 2007
I am a high school student who made use of this book (and others) while preparing for my interview at the university of Oxford.

This book has thoroughly enhanced my understanding in the (broad!) field of organic chemistry.
The visual aspect of the book is outstanding. All reactions are coloured so as to emphasize on certain bonds and atoms in the molecules. There are continuous suggestions for students to compare certain reactions with others previously studied.
The content spans over 50 chapters. Unlike older texts where the division is made according to functional groups: (Chapter 1: alkanes, chapter 2: alkenes .....) this book instead classifies each chapter according to reaction types (nucleophilic, electrophilic substitution; nucleophilic, electrophilic addition; elimination E1, elimination E2 etc).

The text never digresses badly, and it always keeps in mind that it is a (high-school, college etc.) student reading.

I recommend this textbook to anyone interested in the field of organic chemistry.

The best undergraduate organic chemistry book ever written, 28 Aug 2006
This book manages to present the fundamentals of organic chemistry in such an engaging and clear manner that it is an absolute joy to use.

The questions reinforce the material wonderfully and provide a steady learning curve, first building confidence and then stretching the student.

The companion solutions text is definately also worth considering if you are using this book as a tutorial.

All in all, one of the best books you will come across as a student of chemistry.

Definitely worth the money, 20 Aug 2005
If you are serious about learning organic chemistry then go direct to the source. Stuart Warren and his fellow authors have really done a good job with this undergraduate level text.

The book is clearly laid out in sections with good use of colour and diagrams.

There is a glut of books on organic chemistry on the market but not all are as clear and accessible as this one.

Do yourself a favour and get this book and the solutions manual to go with it.

Excellent, 12 Nov 2003
I use this book for my AS Level chemistry. It is not suitable for use on it's own but is an excellent supplement to a textbook. It has all the information you need, but not in as much detail as a main textbook.

Easy to understand, 01 Sep 2002
This is the best AQA revision book available. The rest of the books in the series are also worth buying. They contain a large amount of content but are small enough to read through for last minute revision. They helped me to get a grade A in my chemistry AS. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone studying the AQA syllabus.

An excellent guide-book for this module, 16 Mar 2002
The book covers the bare essentials for this chemistry module. Although it does not go into substantial detail, it is excellent as a quick reference and is also very useful for "last-minute" cramming

Small, concise and friendly looking but with plenty detail., 07 Mar 2002
The book is perfect for revision. I found it really great that it was specific only to my sylabus because it meant there were no extra pages to wade through. Although i am aware some books tell you which parts you need to look at for each specification i prefered a book catering for only one examining board because it kept content down to a minimum making it look less threatening and much more approachable! The modular format also really helped with this, i'd suggest you get the whole set! The content is easy to understand and in easily enough detail. The books do contain colour and highlighted text but not many different colours (generally just black, one bright colour and shades of gray) which i liked beaucse i find some revision books overwhelming and confusing due to them overdoing it on the colour! All in all, a very helpful revision aid.

Want to pass this exam? Buy this book!, 25 Feb 2002
It's official - whoever had the idea for this series of Collins revision guides is a genius. Why? Well, read on......
These guides are written specifically for the AQA Chemistry syllabus. Many revision guides are written for the general subject of Chemistry - however, there are differences between the different exam boards, and so using a syllabus specific revision guide ensures you are learning all of the material you need to know - and are not wasting time learning things not on your syllabus.
Plus, these provide clearly worked examples of the sorts of questions you get asked not only in exams, but also for your homework - which comes in useful! There is also a mock paper - taken form the AQA resource pack - and a detailed answer scheme, so you can really test your knowledge.
If that isn't enough to convince you that you should buy this immediately, this guide is also written really clearly, using bullet points, tables and margin notes to ensure you understand every topic fully, and each section is clearly referenced to the syllabus, so you can make revision notes really easily and quickly.
Still not convinced? Well - my chemistry teacher was so impressed with it, he's planning to buy a complete set for his class next year!
If you really want to do well in Chemistry......my advice? Buy this now!

Bible of chemistry, 06 Nov 2007
Fantastic book, if you are doing coures such as chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. it covers everything

Best book ever, 24 Oct 2006
This book is fantastic for chemistry university undergrads. Fantastic book easy to follow and develops basic concept into more complicated ideas. Everythings in colour and has lovely pictures made by the latests graphics so that you can see the 3D structure of atoms and other stuff really easily. This book is recommended by university lecturers at manchester uni (we get a free copy yipee!)- it is one of the core texts. This book is a must have - to ease transition from A-level to degree and beyond into furthur chemistry. Also has worked answers and questions for you to try. Such a good book in every way. It makes chemistry so fun and intersting with all the really good graphics and pictures.
GET THIS BOOK - IT IS A CHEMISTRY UNDERGRAD MUST HAVE

An excellent breif overview, 03 Feb 2006
A very good introduction into a field of interest to many different disciplines. Its appeal to such a variety of scientific backgrounds means that it lacks specific detail to some. Its ability to spark the imagination and unifty concepts is powerful. The third edition (2005) offers a breif but essential summery of relevant key concepts within my own background, theoretical and computational chemistry, despite some matieral quickly being outdated. The rest of the book offered an intriguing insight into the minds of collegues within the drug development industry. Suitible to undergraduates, this text is an invaluble introduction to broad range of exciting fields.

Average, 13 Jun 2005
This book is generally ok - topics are sufficiently well explained with some good examples. Probably quite good value for money and you probably wouldn't be disappointed with it. For a little more money though you can get a real classic in this field - "The Organic Chemsitry of Drug Design and Drug Action" by Silverman which contains a wealth of information about drug interaction and is so readable and very clear to understand. If you want to just get buy on a budget then buy this - if you really want to know your stuff for a little extra then go for Silverman's book.

An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry (2nd Edition), 14 Nov 2003
It's a good textbook for a chemistry student who needs to know a little bit of every branches of his studies, but the level is not enough high if you want to understand the biochemical processes completely.

Great book for those studying medicinal chemistry!, 01 Jan 2003
For the topics the book covers - it certainly does well! It is easy to follow and understand. The diagrams are clear and helpful - espcially in the opiates chapter. It is generally a useful resource in furthering your understanding of this subject!

However, if I should have one critisism - it certainly doesn't and wouldn't be able to cover everything.. Noticeably it lacks information on certain receptor groups. It also doesn't cover in depth possible chemistry mechanisms, which I believe enhances understanding.

Overall though this is a useful book!

why you should buy this book, 23 May 2003
This book is salvation for us poor chemists who spend hours looking in four thick chemistry text books for one snippet of information. It provides a good overview of all the topics and manages to link them all in a coherent manner. It is very well laid out and easy to use, and is cheaper than the average textbook.

Overall, despite the black and white illustrations, this book is anything but overbearing and would make an excellent introduction for any chemist or potential chemist.

A 'must read' for first year undergrads, 23 Apr 2003
This book gives an excellent explanation of the basic ideas in chemistry. It is different from most other chemistry books in that it brings together ideas from what are usually considered different areas of chemistry to give a reader friendly (thermodynamics without the maths!) explanation of, well, why chemical reactions happen. The topics covered by the authors are clearly presented with loads of diagrams and everyday examples to support the text. Emphasis is placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The book is aimed at first year undergraduates/those who are about to begin studying chemistry at university (and I would definitely recommend it as pre-university reading) however, I think it would also be of interest to a wider audience - even though I'm a chemistry graduate I found reading the book useful because it explained the basics more clearly than any other textbook I've read.

The basis for chemistry explained..., 13 Apr 2003
This book provides an excellent basis for the study of chemistry and is ideal for for those about to begin the first year of a chemistry degree. It brings together concepts from different areas of chemistry, ranging from thermodynamics to organic chemistry, to provide a comprehensive explanation of, well, why reactions happen.

I found the topics covered by the authors to be clearly presented and in a logical order, with excellent use of diagrams and examples to support the ideas discussed in the text. Emphasis is firmly placed on understanding why things happen rather than the learning of 'rules'.

The authors suggest that this book would be suitable for those who have just completed A-level chemistry or are first year undergraduates, however, I believe it would be of interest to a wider audience both as a teaching resource and for graduates who want to refresh their understanding of the basics. I found the book easy to read and useful as it reminded me of how I should think about the chemistry with which I am already familiar.

Recommend for students struggling with organic chemistry., 23 Sep 2000
This primer concisely lays down the basic concepts required for a thorough understanding of organic chemistry, including those physical ones. Each concept is explained clearly and carefully with analogies and examples where necessary. There is a particular emphasis on identifying the common mechanistic themes between reactions, rather than the chemical differences between homologus series, as found in standard texts.

I would recommend this book to interested A-level (pre-university) and university students, especially those having difficulty in appreciating that organic chemistry is more than a wide array of unconnected reactions.

Organic Chemistry at another level..., 29 Aug 2002
Retrosynthesis is an incredibly logical, but yet incredibly abstract concept. For somebody who has studied organic syntheses forward to then be told to switch into reverse is quite an effort. I was dreading it. I found this book in concert with the Warren, Wothers, Greeves and Clayden text book to break it down into a logical sequence of steps and train of thought. The examples given in this book are mostly drug molecules and natural products giving this book a very applied feeling, as ultimately that is the point of learning mechanisms. The explanations are concise, but simple. Well written, detailed and informative. This book does assume prior knowledge of organic chemistry at a fairly basic level (first or second year undergraduate).

Useful for improving synthetic chemistry skills, 25 Nov 2001
Working through "The disconnection approach" aids the user to gain useful analytical skills for synthetic chemistry as well as helping the user get a general feel for useful reactions used over and over again in organic sythesis.

This book facilitates the application of retrosynthesis, 03 Mar 1999
Retrosynthetic analysis is the process of developing a strategy for the synthesis of an a particular chemical (the target). The process essentially involves the repeated use of (known) useful patterns (the jargon is 'disconnection') until a potential viable synthetic procedure from available starting materials to the target is proposed/discovered.

E.J. Corey (Noebl prize winner in organic chemistry) first described a formal methodology for the retrosynthetic analysis in the 70's. That is, he described a strategy in which '(retro)synthesis patterns' could be applied. This was great work and others started to think in the same fashion after Corey published his ideas. However, the field really took off after the publication of this book in 1982. The reason for this is that Warren was able to teach others how to use(!) the retrosynthetic methodology. He did this by: 1) Knowing the skill level of his audience (3rd level univeristy student + post-graduate) 2) Highly structuring the material so that the reader progressively develops an understanding of the subject; and very importently 3) provide a number of very clear and useful examples (and an associated workbook completely filled with worked examples).

A great way to learn about this detailed subject. A classic!

More parts please and make them looser!, 20 Nov 2003
This item is high quality.

If you do not have muscular upper limbs now, joining and separating the parts will develop them to Arnie proportions. They fit very tightly, the enclosed tool is too small to allow enough leverage.

The box could really do with having the contents increased by one half at least as there is a shortage of atoms once a moderate sized item has been assembled.

I was loathed to take apart the molecule once I'd assembeld it due to the physical exhaustion that I suffered assembling it.