I’m sure everyone has had those moments when they aren’t getting what they need from their teachers or syllabi. There comes a time in everyone’s life where self-learning is important. Typically, I’ve found that it’s more useful to self-learn because you’re already interested in the concepts. That’s a perfect situation in which having one of the best chemistry books for self-study comes in handy!
You already want to learn, and you can dive deeper into certain aspects of the subject matter. Also, if either you or your kids are being home-schooled you may feel like you or them aren’t getting the same information as others.
Many textbooks seem to be dry and to only include what is necessary to get to the next grade level. Many decide to find out how to self-learn chemistry and find it to be an amazing journey. Here are some tips from Stanford University that might be useful.
In any case, even if your studying in high school or college, learning to learn by yourself is always a great skills to have. I would say that one of the most interesting skills I posses, and that made me succeed in may chemistry career is that I learn pretty fast by myself. And there is no other way around nurturing that skill than just picking up a book, and manage to learn about something without having to attend a course.
Our Top Choice
Though there are many great textbooks out there to help self-learn chemistry, I’ve found that the “Focus on High School Chemistry Student Textbook” is the best one. Though it’s a bit expensive, it provides a solid foundation to prepare you for college classes, and it’s my top pick.
Focus On High School Chemistry Student Textbook
Table of Quick Comparison
As always, here’s a table of quick comparison between what we consider to be the best books to self-learn chemistry.
Review of the Best Chemistry Books for Self-Study
Whether you’re new or you’ve been studying chemistry for a while, there are always going to be ways to improve. These are the best chemistry books for self-study that I’ve come up with. I hope you enjoy checking them out and reading them as much as I did!
1. Focus on High School Chemistry Student Textbook – Best Overall
Those who want to learn chemistry on their own should consider this book. I’ve dubbed it the overall best for various reasons. For example, it includes 10 chapters, and they’re all full-color. You’re not going to see those dry, boring words blur from the page here.
Focus On High School Chemistry Student Textbook
On top of that, you’re not just learning about one particular aspect of chemistry. The topics included here are:
- What are chemical reactions
- Atoms and mass (moles, etc.)
- Concept of acidity
- Chemical bonding
- Mixtures
- Acid-base reactions
- Intro to organic chemistry
- Intro to experimental chemistry
- RNA and DNA (biochemistry intro)
- Polymers
That’s not even all of the topics that are covered, but you get the idea!
The author’s name is Dr. Rebecca W. Keller, PhD in biophysical chemistry. She really knows how to make chemistry easier to understand, making this a top choice for people who want to self-study AP chemistry.
2. Chemistry: Concepts and Problems – A Self-Teaching Guide
If your ultimate goal is to master the fundamentals of the chemistry field, this guide could be helpful. Chemistry is considered a fundamental science because it touches everything else to do with science.
Chemistry: Concepts and Problems, A Self-Teaching Guide
This book is really cool, because besides general concepts, it includes links to other subjects, such as:
- Electronics
- Physics
- Biology
- Astronomy
- Environmental studies
- Much more
I’ve found that many high school students don’t feel like their textbooks give them enough information. Go pick up this book as a refresher course or to learn independently. Though you may not realize it, this can also be used to self-study AP chemistry!
All in all, it offers step-by-step methods to boost your understanding of those fundamental chemistry concepts. Plus, the course is interactive and comes with study problems and practice questions.
3. Chemistry: The Central Science – Best In-depth and General
I realize that some people want to go more in-depth with their learning. If your goal is to learn as much as you can about the central science (chemistry), then this is the book for you. While it’s comparable in price to some of the others, it’s not on the higher end of the spectrum. Chemistry: The Central Science is a full-fledged intro to college level general chemistry textbook, so it starts at the beginning but you will find anything that you might want to know at this level.
Chemistry: The Central Science
On top of that, those who really like e-reading are sure to appreciate the eTextbook, which can be downloaded to your smart device. I love when textbook writers want to make it easier for everyone to learn their own way!
For those who want a bit more, there’s also a “Mastering Chemistry” course available with this one. You can sign up and pay for that class separately to get even more from the book.
4. High School Chemistry Unlocked
If the goal is to find out how to self-study chemistry for high school, this book might be ideal. It tells you everything you should know about the subject and includes complex concepts that are easily understood.
High School Chemistry Unlocked
Plus, everyone gets self-assessments to pinpoint areas that require more review. You’re going to be learning with hands-on practice and guided examples of how chemistry works in everyday life. On top of that, you can also go online to find bonus questions like those on the SAT and AP Chemistry exam!
5. A Self-Study Guide to the Principles of Organic Chemistry
I know that many people enjoy organic chemistry, which is hard to come by in regular school curriculums. That’s why this book is included. You can find out everything you want to know about organic chemistry.
A Self-Study Guide to the Principles of Organic Chemistry
It talks about:
- Intro to organic reaction mechanisms
- Hydrocarbons, nomenclature, etc.
- Bonding in organic compounds
- Stereochemistry
- Spectroscopic techniques applied to organic chemistry
- Tons more
There are over 100 charts and diagrams included so that you can visualize the bonds, structures and reaction mechanism while reading!
This is a great intro textbook for the subject, but if you are really interested in organic chemistry, you might want to take a look at our in-depth reviews of the best o-chem textbooks.
6. Chemistry for Dummies – Best in the “for dummies” series
Don’t feel like Chemistry for Dummies is a slap in the face. I love this series of books because it breaks things down for you. However, it never talks down to you.
Chemistry For Dummies
On top of that, you’re getting an inside look as to how chemistry actually works in everyday life, whether it’s petroleum or medicine. When you’re learning from your home-school or high-school textbook, you can also use this to get an idea of why this subject is so important.
You’re going to get modern and relevant examples of what you use chemistry for each day. Do you ever use the microwave or cook? You’re utilizing chemistry. This book shows you that in an easy-to-understand format.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to self-study chemistry isn’t hard, but you need the right tools. Any of these books can help on your journey. However, I feel that “Focus on High School Chemistry” is the best choice because it talks about so many different topics.
You’re not going to feel like you’re just reading jargon all the time. It really focuses on adding color and excitement to the field of chemistry. Ultimately, I’ve found that it works great on its own or as a supplement to your high-school or home-schooling curriculum. Pick it up, and give it a try today!
Leave a Reply