Recommendations for General Chemistry text

[QuantumCurt]

Hey everyone, I was hoping someone could point me towards a good General Chemistry textbook. I just finished General Chemistry I last semester, and I'm taking part II next semester. We didn't have a required text for the class (nor did we even really need one), but I want to get a good comprehensive textbook for reference and further reading in the future.

I was looking at Linus Pauling's "General Chemistry" text, https://www.amazon.com/dp/1607962985/?tag=pfamazon01-20 . It seems to have overwhelmingly positive reviews. There are two versions of it, the one linked above, and another one from the Dover Books series, that appears to be the exact same book from a different publisher, and in paperback. Does anyone have any experience with this book? I figure Linus Pauling is one of the greats in chemistry, so his text is probably a good one.

Does anyone have any other recommendations? They would be much appreciated.

 

[Borek]

This question is asked now and then here (https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=666941) and on other forums.

To some extent it depends on your learning style. Pauling's book is a classic and generally praised, but it doesn't mean you will like it. If you can, go the library or bookstore and browse the book before buying.

 

[Student100]

I used Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change by Martin Silberberg and it's your average colorful, sometimes annoying, textbook.

Borek has some good advice.

 

[QuantumCurt]

Thanks for the input. I looked through that thread, and I'm currently checking out some of the recommendations in there. I'm going to see if Pauling's book is at my school library, or my local library. You're probably right that I should check it out before purchasing.

It doesn't sound like the Silberberg book would be what I'm looking for. I'm looking for less of a standard textbook type of book, and something that's a little bit more of a reader type of book. I tend not to like books that are all muddled up with millions of diagrams and pictures.

 

[QuantumCurt]

Raymond Chang's "Chemistry" seems to have some pretty positive reviews. Definitely a bit pricier than the Pauling book though.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0073402680/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[QuantumCurt]

"Chemistry: The Central Science" also has a ton of positive reviews. Pricier though.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321696727/?tag=pfamazon01-20