ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Chemistry => Topic started by: Readinya on November 21, 2010, 05:31:47 pm

Title: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: Readinya on November 21, 2010, 05:31:47 pm
I'm using Nelson next year, but since Nelson 1/2 was bad already, how much worse can Nelson 3/4 be?

I've heard that Heinemann was the best; so should i get this textbook as a reference throughout the year?
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: iNerd on November 21, 2010, 05:48:33 pm
I was told Heinemann wasn't very good at concept-explaining but had excellent questions and information to extend students.
Thats what you need to own Year 12 right?
Flicking through my 1/2 book "Enhanced"...doesn't look too bad at all.
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: vexx on November 21, 2010, 05:54:39 pm
Heinemenn is the best, it has everything and it explains it quite well, any problems really can be resolved with a teacher/VN so a perfect textbook isn't required.

Whatever you do, do not get Dimensions - i bought it as a backup textbook to self-teach and it has things missing that we need to know from the course! So don't buy it unless you also have another book..
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: luken93 on November 21, 2010, 06:02:03 pm
StudyOn is also pretty decent, not many mistakes, covers all topics well (Any practice Exams that I've seen can be worked out from the textbook) and some good questions
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: Readinya on November 21, 2010, 06:26:37 pm
Yeah, i've been looking through VN and Heinemann seems to get the most endorsements...

Heinemenn is the best, it has everything and it explains it quite well, any problems really can be resolved with a teacher/VN so a perfect textbook isn't required.

^ Thing is, Vexx, my teacher in Yr 11 sucks; and apparently there's a great possibility that this same Yr 11 Chem teacher will be my Yr 12 Chem teacher too.

I'm going to rely a LOT on VN from now on...
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: vexx on November 21, 2010, 06:44:57 pm
Yeah, i've been looking through VN and Heinemann seems to get the most endorsements...

Heinemenn is the best, it has everything and it explains it quite well, any problems really can be resolved with a teacher/VN so a perfect textbook isn't required.

^ Thing is, Vexx, my teacher in Yr 11 sucks; and apparently there's a great possibility that this same Yr 11 Chem teacher will be my Yr 12 Chem teacher too.

I'm going to rely a LOT on VN from now on...

Nothing wrong with being on VN lots!
If your teacher is bad, then it's best to self-learn and find a decent tutor to really go over the parts you can't seem to get through when you encounter them. You will be fine, i'm sure you can do really well if you want to :)
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: natalie.krystal7 on November 21, 2010, 07:15:45 pm
Yeah, i've been looking through VN and Heinemann seems to get the most endorsements...

Heinemenn is the best, it has everything and it explains it quite well, any problems really can be resolved with a teacher/VN so a perfect textbook isn't required.

^ Thing is, Vexx, my teacher in Yr 11 sucks; and apparently there's a great possibility that this same Yr 11 Chem teacher will be my Yr 12 Chem teacher too.

I'm going to rely a LOT on VN from now on...

High five readinya, my Chem teacher didn't know about the detailed study and didn't teach us anything about it, just told us to read the whole chapter with all four processes ^^

Cheers to VN, it enlightened me :) Found out just before the exam, though. >.<
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: stonecold on November 21, 2010, 07:18:14 pm
Heinemenn is the best, it has everything and it explains it quite well, any problems really can be resolved with a teacher/VN so a perfect textbook isn't required.

Whatever you do, do not get Dimensions - i bought it as a backup textbook to self-teach and it has things missing that we need to know from the course! So don't buy it unless you also have another book..

Yeah, vexx is right, Heinemann is by far the best.

Dimensions doesn't even cover High Resolution NMR, which you would have been screwed for in this years mid year if your didn't know it.
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: pi on November 22, 2010, 03:01:27 pm
I agree with vexx and stonecold. Heinemann is the best by far (not the 'enhanced version -it weighs more and has the same info!) as it explains concepts really well compared to the other textbooks, although for stoichiometry, Nelson has more questions. StudyOn is also decent, but not as good as Heinemann (non-enhanced!) or Nelson. I don't have any experience with any of the other textbooks though...

I was told Heinemann wasn't very good at concept-explaining but had excellent questions and information to extend students.
Thats what you need to own Year 12 right?
Flicking through my 1/2 book "Enhanced"...doesn't look too bad at all.

Cant believe you fell for the profit grab, wasted ~$60-$70 on a few new pics... (so much for Sarbo's advice)  :P



Readinya, go with Heinemann over the holiday break and tolerate Nelson through the terms (it's not that bad though!). Good luck (VN will help as well if needed)!  :)

Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: Readinya on November 23, 2010, 01:09:36 pm
I agree with vexx and stonecold. Heinemann is the best by far (not the 'enhanced version -it weighs more and has the same info!) as it explains concepts really well compared to the other textbooks, although for stoichiometry, Nelson has more questions. StudyOn is also decent, but not as good as Heinemann (non-enhanced!) or Nelson. I don't have any experience with any of the other textbooks though...

Readinya, go with Heinemann over the holiday break and tolerate Nelson through the terms (it's not that bad though!). Good luck (VN will help as well if needed)!  :)

Thanks! But i think i know i will have a hissy fit at Nelson next year; i certainly did during Yr 11!

Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: Readinya on November 23, 2010, 01:10:17 pm
Btw, does anyone have the pdf of heinemann? I've seen it around, but the links seem to be broken..
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: Greggler on November 23, 2010, 08:00:31 pm
lolwut. i had dimensions.... still managed on the mid year; probs coz i did so many prac exams i guess ... :S
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: Tan on November 24, 2010, 10:12:34 am
We use dimensions too and our teacher is aware that its missing nmr so she'll probably just take it out of other books or something. Dimensions is decent but I didnt know Heinemann was this great otherwise I would have tried to check it out sooner.
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: boysenberry on November 24, 2010, 01:21:50 pm
Yeah Heinemann's probably the best but in my opinion Nelson is the second best, so don't worry too much I guess.
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: nacho on November 26, 2010, 07:12:16 pm
Okay, I'm getting Nelson next year for school, but I want to get a second reference, from posts above, it appears heinemann is the way to go. Any one else tried the other textbooks and think differently?
Thanks
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: HERculina on November 26, 2010, 07:17:46 pm
Is StudyOn Chemistry good?
wat is bad about it
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: pi on November 26, 2010, 07:24:07 pm
Nothing bad about StudyOn (Jacaranda), it is just the Heinemann text is superior in explanations (+diagrams) and questions. Its not a bad text to study through though (in case I ever mentioned that it was, sorry), I have used it in 1+2 to cross-reference the Heinemann on occasions, to success.
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: Souljette_93 on November 26, 2010, 07:49:08 pm
I used Heinemann at school, quality of questions was good, but for some reason I found Nelson better at explaining concepts and some their questions were actually quite good.
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: taiga on November 26, 2010, 08:00:33 pm
"A+ Chemistry Notes"

Only text I used for chem this year
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: pi on November 26, 2010, 08:03:07 pm
"A+ Chemistry Notes"

Only text I used for chem this year

Was is good? I'm thinking of buying it (I believe there are two volumes) over the hols. Recommended?
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: onerealsmartass on November 26, 2010, 08:06:24 pm
wow a lot of us are using heinemann, and i also plan to get the A+ notes
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: Souljette_93 on November 26, 2010, 08:13:59 pm
Yeah A+ is good, especially the questions :)
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: taiga on November 26, 2010, 08:17:08 pm
"A+ Chemistry Notes"

Only text I used for chem this year

Was is good? I'm thinking of buying it (I believe there are two volumes) over the hols. Recommended?

If I had to recommend either the Heinemann Text Book, or A+ notes, I'ld go A+ notes :D

Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience
Title: Re: Best Yr 12 Chemistry Textbooks
Post by: Readinya on November 27, 2010, 12:34:15 am
Yeah, i'm definitely getting the A+ Notes.

Anyone recommend the Lisachem books too? I heard they are quite good.

And it seems to me that Heinemann is the best at explaining concepts, but perhaps Nelson is slightly better in setting up their worked examples and the quality of questions.