Organic Chemistry Problem Solver

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

Chemistry students will find the Chemistry Problem Solver® to be an invaluable supplement to their textbooks. The book is subdivided into 32 chapters, each dealing with a separate topic. The subject matter is developed beginning with fundamental gas laws and extending through organic chemistry, biochemistry, and applied problems. Also included are sections on equilibrium, chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and quantum chemistry.
Twenty-three of our 32 chapters begin with a special section entitled "Basic Attacks and Strategies for Solving Problems in this Chapter." This section explains the principles that are applicable to the topics in the chapter. By reviewing these principles, the student can acquire a good grasp of the underlying techniques and strategies through which problems related to the chapter can be solved.


HOW TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND
A TOPIC THOROUGHLY

1. Refer to your class text and read the section pertaining to the topic. You should become acquainted with the principles discussed there. These principles, however, may not be clear to you at the time.

2. Locate the topic you are looking for by referring to the Table of Contents in the front of this book. After turning to the appropriate chapter, read the section "Basic Attacks and Strategies for Solving Problems in this Chapter." This section is a review of the important principles related to the chapter, and it will help you to understand further how and why problems in the chapter are solved in the manner shown.

3. Turn to the page where the topic begins and review the problems under each topic, in the order given. For each topic, the problems are arranged in order of complexity, from the simplest to the more difficult. Some problems may appear similar to others, but each problem has been selected to illustrate a different point or solution method.

To learn and understand a topic thoroughly and retain its contents, it will be generally necessary for students to review the problems several times. Repeated review is essential in order to gain experience in recognizing the principles that should be applied, and to select the best solution technique.

HOW TO FIND A PARTICULAR PROBLEM

To locate one or more problems related to any particular subject matter, refer to the index. In using the index, be certain to note that the numbers given there refer to problem numbers, not to page numbers. This arrangement of the index is intended to facilitate finding a problem more rapidly, since two or more problems may appear on a page.

If a particular type of problem cannot be readily found, it is recommended that the student refer to the Table of Contents and then turn to the chapter which is applicable to the problem being sought. By scanning or glancing at the material that is boxed, it will generally be possible to find problems related to the one being sought, without consuming considerable time. After the problems have been located, the solutions can be reviewed and studied in detail.

For the purpose of locating problems rapidly, students should acquaint themselves with the organization of the book as found in the Table of Contents.

In preparing for an exam, it is useful to find the topics to be covered in the exam from the Table of Contents, and then review the problems under those topics several times. This should equip the student with what might be needed for the exam.