Why do certain substances react together in the way that they do?
What determines the shape of molecules?
And how can we predict whether a particular reaction will happen at all?

Such questions lie at the heart of chemistry - the science of understanding the composition of substances, their reactions, and properties. While often fragmented into the strands of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, a full understanding of chemistry can only be gained by seeing the subject as a single, unified whole.

Chemical Structure and Reactivity rises to the challenge of depicting the reality of chemistry. Offering a fresh approach to undergraduate teaching, it depicts the subject as a seamless discipline, showing how organic, inorganic, and physical concepts can be blended together to achieve the common goal of understanding chemical systems. With a lively and engaging writing style augmented throughout by purpose-drawn illustrations, and custom-developed online support, Chemical Structure and Reactivity alone makes taking an integrated approach in the teaching of chemistry a realistic proposition.

The eBook offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning support: Find the eBook on VitalSource.

Part I: The fundamentals

1: Molecular structures and the states of matter
2: Electrons in atoms
3: Electrons in molecules: diatomics
4: Electrons in molecules: polyatomics
5: Symmetry
6: Bonding in solids
7: Thermodynamics and the Second Law
8: Trends in bonding
9: Reactions: the role of orbitals
10: Organic chemistry 1: functional groups
11: The rates of reactions

Part II: Going further

12: Spectroscopy
13: Organic chemistry 2: three-dimensional shapes
14: Organic chemistry 3: reactions of pi systems
15: Main group chemistry
16: Transition metals
17: Quantum mechanics and spectroscopy
18: Chemical thermodynamics
19: Chemical kinetics
20: Electrochemistry
21: Dimensions, units and some key mathematical ideas

James Keeler: Department of Chemistry and Selwyn College, University of Cambridge
Peter Wothers: Department of Chemistry and St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge