Experiments in General Chemistry

The experiments were easy enough to complete. However, this so-called "manual" offered little discussion of theory or problem-solving methods related to each experiment, rendering the pre-lab and post-lab exercises very difficult to complete. It was necessary to consult multiple outside sources for almost every lab write-up. Overall, this is an unsatisfactory lab manual that feels incomplete.

This is the most stupid chemistry lab manual ever !!! The prelaboratory problems do not relate to the discussion of the chapter. You basically have to Google for answer because after reading the Lab chapter, no answer could be found. Furthermore, the wording layout is hard to understand. Professors who make students take this lab manual either get a cut from the publisher for using this book, or they have absolutely no idea what how bad this lab manual is.

What's the hell with this book! The content of theory and lab experiment is quite poor but the questions of pre and post experiments are quite difficult. I can't find the direct answers from the book but must refer from other sources or google search in order to answering these questions. This is a worse lab manual book. Very very hate it.

in good shape

I concur with the reviewer above. I'm currently taking chem lab using this manual. From the student's perspective, this is a poorly written lab manual. The laboratory discussions do not provide sufficient clues to answering the pre- and post-lab questions. The conceptual connections and explanations are often missing. The student will have to consult other manuals and textbooks to provide a better explanation and educate themselves, which really amounts to using another lab manual altogether. The book's preface itself states: "Because of the exploratory nature of many of the experiments, students will frequently need guidance" (p.viii, sixth edition). So the manual itself admits to its vague and un-systematized character. A good lab instructor is therefore crucial. But the quality of the instructor is a separate issue from the quality of a book. Would you pay $180 to read a poorly written lab manual? The time that I waste having to consult other books and references due to this manual's lack of clarity simply adds insult to injury. Students should appeal to the instructor & department chairs to replace this overpriced and inferior manual with another one.

The experiments were easy enough to complete. However, this so-called "manual" offered little discussion of theory or problem-solving methods related to each experiment, rendering the pre-lab and post-lab exercises very difficult to complete. It was necessary to consult multiple outside sources for almost every lab write-up. Overall, this is an unsatisfactory lab manual that feels incomplete.

This is the most stupid chemistry lab manual ever !!! The prelaboratory problems do not relate to the discussion of the chapter. You basically have to Google for answer because after reading the Lab chapter, no answer could be found. Furthermore, the wording layout is hard to understand. Professors who make students take this lab manual either get a cut from the publisher for using this book, or they have absolutely no idea what how bad this lab manual is.

What's the hell with this book! The content of theory and lab experiment is quite poor but the questions of pre and post experiments are quite difficult. I can't find the direct answers from the book but must refer from other sources or google search in order to answering these questions. This is a worse lab manual book. Very very hate it.

It was right at all..we were always a few chapters ahead and the pre and post labs were completely absolved of any responsibilities of teaching us or even having to do anything relatable to the lab. The actually lab exercises were simple though.

I concur with the reviewer above. I'm currently taking chem lab using this manual. From the student's perspective, this is a poorly written lab manual. The laboratory discussions do not provide sufficient clues to answering the pre- and post-lab questions. The conceptual connections and explanations are often missing. The student will have to consult other manuals and textbooks to provide a better explanation and educate themselves, which really amounts to using another lab manual altogether. The book's preface itself states: "Because of the exploratory nature of many of the experiments, students will frequently need guidance" (p.viii, sixth edition). So the manual itself admits to its vague and un-systematized character. A good lab instructor is therefore crucial. But the quality of the instructor is a separate issue from the quality of a book. Would you pay $180 to read a poorly written lab manual? The time that I waste having to consult other books and references due to this manual's lack of clarity simply adds insult to injury. Students should appeal to the instructor & department chairs to replace this overpriced and inferior manual with another one.