Product Description

For two-semester courses in Organic Chemistry taken primarily by science and pre-health majors. Wade, organized around functional groups, is known for his student-oriented approach--he incorporates problem solving help (features in green), orientation features (in blue), and complete discussions of mechanisms (mechanism boxes and key mechanism spreads). As always, he explains concepts without taking the unnecessary short cuts that often lead to misconceptions. Additionally, he integrates up-to-date aspects of spectroscopy, bioorganic chemistry (often through accessible margin notes), and many applications to polymer chemistry throughout. The PH online organic homework system, ACE Organic, provides instructors and students a tool that is created specifically to mimic how students do organic homework-by drawing organic structures. This program provides detailed feedback for incorrect answers to enhance the learning process.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15212 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1328 pages

From the Publisher
Organized with a traditional functional group approach, this top-selling text provides a user-friendly and pedagogy-rich introduction to organic chemistry with a strong emphasis on developing problem-solving skills. The Third Edition strengthens the text's widely praised emphasis on problem-solving with new student pedagogy and an increased number of problems throughout.

From the Back Cover
In a highly accessible fashion, this top-selling book bridges the gap between conceptual understanding and actual application—while strongly emphasizing the development of problem-solving skills. The book focuses on traditional organic chemistry topics and offers up-to-date aspects of spectroscopy, relevant photographs, and many applications to polymer chemistry integrated throughout the book.

About the Author

L. G. "Skip" Wade decided to become a chemistry major during his sophomore ear at Rice University, while taking organic chemistry from Professor Ronald M. Magi After receiving his B.A. from Rice in 1969, Wade went on to Harvard University, ere he did research with Professor James D. White. While at Harvard, he served as the Head Teaching Fellow for the organic laboratories and was strongly influenced by the teaching methods of two master educators, Professors Leonard K. Nash and Frank H. Westheimer.

After completing his Ph.D. at Harvard in 1974, Dr. Wade joined the chemistry faculty at Colorado State University. Over the course of fifteen years at Colorado State, Dr. Wade taught organic chemistry to thousands of students working toward careers in all areas of biology, chemistry, human medicine, veterinary medicine, and environmental studies. He also authored research papers in organic synthesis and in chemical education, as well as eleven books reviewing current research in organic synthesis. Since 1989, Dr. Wade has been a chemistry professor at Whitman College, where he teaches organic chemistry and pursues research interests in organic synthesis and forensic chemistry. Dr. Wade received the A. E. Lange Award for Distinguished Science Teaching at Whitman in 1993.

Dr. Wades interest in forensic science has led him to testify as an expert witness in court cases involving drugs and firearms, and he has worked as a police firearms instructor, drug consultant, and boating safety officer. He also enjoys repairing and restoring old violins and bows, which he has done professionally for many years.

Customer Reviews

Organic Certified!
L.G. "Skip" Wade has done an exceptional job at writing a textbook in probably the most merciless field of human endeavor. First, the physical aspect of the book is worth noting; the illustration is pleasant yet remain faithful to the scientific accuracy it wishes to convey. The glossy paper is sturdy, preventing the frequent mishaps of tear and wear so common to the undergraduate life.

Wade does not condescend as an author (a particular attribute that probably increases the likeability of an author/professor) ; he matter-of-factly admits to having made a "C" on his second organic test, a testament to the difficulty of the subject. He acknowledges the difficulty of organic chemistry, he concurs to the fact that memorization is indeed required, yet he offers the comforting assurance that organic chemistry is indeed the logical subject it has always been touted to be, as evidenced by the structured organization of the book.

The book begins with a review of general chemistry (Lewis structure, acids and bases, molecular orbitals, and the like) and sets to introduce briefly the electron-pushing principle so fundamental to organic chemistry. Alkane is covered next, introducing the concept of conformational analysis, polarity, intermolecular forces, and general introduction the other functional groups. The next chapter is on the study of chemical reactions, followed by stereochemistry (perhaps the hardest chapter). Maybe it is safe to suggest that the most logical part (fundamental principles) of organic chemistry resides in these first five chapters, while the dreadful memorization will soon ensue.

Chapter 6 onwards introduces the major functional groups (alkyl halides, alkene, alcohols, alkynes), where the general trend is to present the nomenclature, the uses, the synthesis, and the mechanism; in that order. Accompanying summary of informations so essential to the "memorization" is found at the end of every chapter.The underlying principles common to all field of organic chemistry are exemplified in the illustrative reactions of the functional groups.

Spectroscopy are introduced in Chapters 12 and 13, and the chapters following them are devoted to introduce the remaining major functional groups with knowledge of spectroscopy already presented. Chapters 23, 24, and 25 discuss the organic compounds of particular interest to the biologically-orientated, while Chapter 26 concludes the book with a survey of synthetic polymer.

The most striking characterictics of the book are probably its problem solving hints, problem-solving strategies and essential problem-solving skills boxes. It almost seemed as though Wade was right in front of you showing you where to push that lazy electrons; patient and reminding. The solved problems are also very illustrative. An accompanying solution manual should perfectly complement your journey into the wonderful world of organic chemistry!

Fantastic!
The author has done an excellent job presenting the material in this textbook. The use of colored text and invaluable illustrations really make the lessons clear. There is no need to highlight or make side notes (something I often do) because the text is organized so well. The problems at the end of every section make you focus on what the author is trying to convey. By doing these problems religiously organic chemistry is easier to understand and can actually be fun (well, relatively at least).

Note: I recommend getting a really cheap used 4th edition solutions manual to go with the 5th edition book. There are very few differences and it is VERY helpful in terms of understanding where you're going astray with those end-of-section problems. This manual contains helpful explanations, not just answers to problems.

Overall "Organic Chemistry 5th Edition" is one of the best scientific textbooks I have ever seen.

Not for the serious chemist
As far as traditional style undergraduate organic textbooks go this is a good one. This book has the advantage of being relatively easy to understand, mechanism based view of organic chemistry, and is a good choice for someone who does not wish to become a synthetic chemist. The blue summary pages at the end of each chapter are especially useful as a quick reference and last minute study guide.

That being said, there are problems about this book that make it only worth purchasing as a required text for a serious chemist. While Wade is good about giving mechanisms for the most part, there are parts, especially later in the book and when metal reagents are used, where these are overlooked, leaving the student to either look up the mechanism elsewhere or simply memorize the reuslt. Another problem with Wade is that he tends intoduce a reaction or set of reactions in one section and then only in a later section discuss the regio- and stereo-selectivity of the reaction, which sometimes leads to difficulty getting the full story.

The book is arranged as a kind of walk through different functional groups synthesis and reactions. This is a common approach and not a poor one, but by the later chapters, most of the chemistry is review, making these chapters overly long and much less useful than they could have been.

A more subtle problem with this text is that it fails to give a student a feel for how laboratory chemistry really works. Reaction examples never have yields, diastereomer ratios, or enantiomeric excesses listed. Many reactions are not a selective as they appear in this text and does not give students a respect for selecting the best reactions for a given synthesis.

In summary, reading this book you will certainly understand organic chemistry and be sufficiently equipped to think about the subject. However, for a serious chemist, this is not the best choice. A more in depth and complete book such as that by Clayden and Geleeves would be a better choice.