Ask HN: General chemistry book recommendations

I'm interested in reading some generalist, non academic, chemistry books. I had a browse on Amazon but couldn't find any, except a few cooking ones. Things I was thinking - industrial chemistry what the different processes are for things like Oil, Soap, plastics and so on. Same for pharmaceuticals and Molecular biology. I've done a few classes back in the day at Uni but I was thinking books for a general audience, there's stacks for maths and physics (e.g. Godel, Escher, Bach) are there the same for chemistry? not my field and would like to read some.

Edit: e.g. a layman's summary of 'Analysis, Synthesis, and Design of Chemical Processes' https://www.amazon.com/Analysis-Synthesis-Design-Chemical-Processes-ebook/dp/B07DPTVPPF

or this 'Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering' https://a.co/d/5rdKgub

26 points | by chadcmulligan 788 days ago

10 comments

  • gpa 784 days ago
    I would like to suggest Nikolai Glinka's "Problems in General Chemistry," of which I have the original Russian edition but I see that it's been translated in English (https://www.amazon.com/Problems-General-Chemistry-Nikolai-Gl...). Reasons for my recommendation is that first, it's interesting, and second, every time I have used this book, all chemistry concepts made sense, unlike in the manuals we had to use in school. To rephrase MiB, this would be the final chemistry book I ever read if I decided not to pursue my studies in the subject further.

    Also, I did not know much about the Glinka himself, but from what I've found from a quick web search was quite interesting: a representative of an ancient noble family, honored scientist, largest teacher-methodist, whose books for decades, determined the level of chemical education in non-chemical and chemical technical institutes of the USSR...

  • akg_67 786 days ago
    https://www.reddit.com/r/chemistry/wiki/books

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Chempros/comments/jput3t/megathread...

  • lauriewired 787 days ago
    Try checking out this LessWrong thread about "The Best Textbooks on Every Subject": https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/xg3hXCYQPJkwHyik2/the-best-t...

    The thread is a little old, but occasionally still gets new comments with book recommendations here and there.

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    • dev_0 786 days ago
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  • thewizardofaus 787 days ago
    "The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements" by Sam Kean
  • fiftyacorn 787 days ago
    The books you listed are more chemical engineering than chemistry - so its stuff like rates of reaction

    Id consider something like -

    https://amzn.eu/d/h7wwIuk

    To read up on physical, organic and inorganic

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    • chadcmulligan 787 days ago
      Thanks, I did do an organic chemistry class, but a long time ago. I was interested in production - the life of oil for example, It's dug up, goes here, refineries make this from it. Same for other things - plastics, pharmaceuticals etc. Doesnt seem to be much on this, except text books. I suppose its more chemical engineering.
  • billfruit 787 days ago
    "General Chemistry" by Linus Pauling.
  • caseyf7 787 days ago
    Isaac Asimov‘s book on chemistry is on my to read list. Chemistry lab books can also be more fun than general lecture textbooks.
  • rsfern 787 days ago
    Not quite chemistry, but “Stuff Matters” by Mark Miodownik is a really good accessible introduction to a lot of foundational materials science ideas
  • is_true 787 days ago
    I remember having used a book by Raymond Chang in chemistry in college
  • heikegaichengji 787 days ago
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