General Chemistry Book Recommendations

[Acut]

Hi!

I wonder if you could give me some general chemistry book recommendations. I have a modest background in Chemistry (I've read introductions equivalent to "Chemistry, the central science", "Chemistry" by Chang, "Concise inorganic chemistry" by Lee and "Organic chemstry" by Clayden - I've forgotten most of the last one though).

But I want to push this frontier a bit, because I see I have some weaknesses. I wouldn't be able to tell for sure the hybridization on SnCl3-, define what is a Van der Waals radius, explain quantitatively what is nuclear shielding or define chemical potential. Essentially, I want to have a better grasp on the details that are usually overlooked or briefly commented on those books. What do you suggest?

 

[Jorriss]

But I want to push this frontier a bit, because I see I have some weaknesses. I wouldn't be able to tell for sure the hybridization on SnCl3-, define what is a Van der Waals radius, explain quantitatively what is nuclear shielding or define chemical potential. Essentially, I want to have a better grasp on the details that are usually overlooked or briefly commented on those books. What do you suggest?

Then you need to move past general chemistry.

Miessler/Tarr Inorganic Chemistry is an interesting book imo - it has a lot of qualitative information and spends a lot of time on bonding and molecular orbitals.

For something like, what is a chemical potential, you need thermodynamics and/or statistical mechanics. I think the best introduction to this is actually a physics book - Thermal Physics, by Schroeder.

And Organic Chemistry by Clayden, Greeves, etc is amazing. Learn that thing front to back and you'll have incredible intuition for organic chemistry.

 

[Vampyr]

Agree with Jorriss. Clayden Greeves Warren and Wothers is an excellent book for org chem...not sure why you would want something better than that for details. If you really want something more advanced try March's advance org chem. I also like Peter Sykes Guidebook to Organic Mechanisms - its a small book but great for understanding the fundamentals. If you're looking for something a bit more on the physical side try Atkin's Physical Chem, or Molecular Quantum Mechanics.