OpenStax to Release Free Online Organic Chemistry Textbook, Instructional Materials

Rice University’s OpenStax project has announced that on Sept. 12, it will release the complete digital version of Organic Chemistry: A Tenth Edition, with unlimited free access online to students and faculty.

The historically costly textbook, which is required material for organic chemistry courses nationwide, will be available in printed form for purchase at “an affordable price,” OpenStax said in a news release. The organization will also offer free access to aligned supplemental resources, including lecture slides, test items and a solution manual, through its website, OpenStax.org.

The first 12 chapters are available online now at https://openstax.org/details/books/organic-chemistry. The remainder will be released next week.

“Organic chemistry is one of the most demanding courses for students looking to pursue careers in STEM, including medical professionals,” the organization said. “In addition to driving the OpenStax mission of expanding access to educational materials to all students, the acquisition and release of this important title illustrates the potential for open education resources to facilitate positive change in how students access and interact with their learning materials.”

The 10th edition has new online diversity, equity and inclusion modules — also being released free for instructors and students — providing a “more comprehensive and inclusive picture of the development and current state of organic chemistry research,” OpenStax said.

Continuing its goal to support health and science students, OpenStax said it plans to release a free, eight-volume series of nursing textbooks covering a comprehensive range of nursing topics. No release date was announced.

About the Author

Kristal Kuykendall is editor, 1105 Media Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].


Featured

  • woman speaking into microphone

    Best Practices for Designing Higher-Ed AV Environments

    Cloud-based management, interoperability, and upfront planning are helping campuses build AV infrastructure that performs at scale.

  • data figures moving across a network

    Addressing the Cyber Skills Gap: Retention & Recruitment Secrets from Higher Education

    Institutions are working to ensure the retention and recruitment of top cyber talent by continually investing in professional development, fostering collaborative work environments, and equipping teams with the latest tools available to protect and defend against threats.

  • Abstract digital cloudscape of glowing interconnected clouds and radiant lines

    Cloud Complexity Outpacing Human Defenses, Report Warns

    According to the 2026 Cloud Security Report from Fortinet, while cloud security budgets are rising, 66% of organizations lack confidence in real-time threat detection across increasingly complex multi-cloud environments, with identity risks, tool sprawl, and fragmented visibility creating persistent operational gaps despite significant investment increases.

  • workshop participants discuss sustainability in open science and research

    Open Source: Advancing Our Digital Commons

    IT leaders are recognizing the benefits of a return to open strategies. CT asked Jack Suess, VP of IT and CIO at UMBC, for his views on returning to the digital commons of open source.