Physical Chemistry

Description

This is a new undergraduate textbook on physical chemistry by Horia Metiu published as four separate paperback volumes. These four volumes on physical chemistry combine a clear and thorough presentation of the theoretical and mathematical aspects of the subject with examples and applications drawn from current industrial and academic research. By using the computer to solve problems that include actual experimental data, the author is able to cover the subject matter at a practical level. The books closely integrate the theoretical chemistry being taught with industrial and laboratory practice. This approach enables the student to compare theoretical projections with experimental results, thereby providing a realistic grounding for future practicing chemists and engineers. Each volume of Physical Chemistry includes Mathematica® and Mathcad® Workbooks on CD-ROM.

Metiu's four separate volumes-Thermodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, Kinetics, and Quantum Mechanics-offer built-in flexibility by allowing the subject to be covered in any order.These textbooks can be used to teach physical chemistry without a computer, but the experience is enriched substantially for those students who do learn how to read and write Mathematica® or Mathcad® programs. A TI-89 scientific calculator can be used to solve most of the exercises and problems.

® Mathematica is a registered trademark of Wolfram Research, Inc.

® Mathcad is a registered trademark of Mathsoft Engineering & Education, Inc.

Reviews

Horia Metiu has created a significant set of volumes on undergraduate physical chemistry. The integration of Mathematica and Mathcad workbooks into the four texts provides instructors with an attractive new option in teaching. Metiua's writing style is folksy and the graphics minimal, a refreshing approach¦.Taken as a whole, the four volumes on physical chemistry by Metiu are impressive, particularly Thermodynamics and Quantum Mechanics¦.Without a doubt, the four textbooks provide essential materials of great utility to physical chemistry instructors. The bottom line is that the set of four volumes is a must have-a keeper- as a novel resource or invaluable classroom tool.

Journal of Chemical Education

February 2008, Vol. 85, No. 2, p. 206

Contents

Chapter 1. The Fundamental Equations of Statistical Mechanics Chapter 2. The Physical Interpretation of the Fundamental Equations of Statistical Mechanics Chapter 3. Interpretation of the Thermodynamic Quantities Chapter 4. The Partition Function of a System of Independent Particles Chapter 5. The Partition Function of an Ideal Gas of Atoms Chapter 6. The Thermodynamic Functions of an Ideal Gas of Atoms

Chapter 7. The Thermodynamic Properties of an Ideal Gas for which Electronic and Nuclear Contributions are Negligible Chapter 8. A Test of the Theory for a Gas for which Electronic and Nuclear Degrees of Freedom Matter Chapter 9. The Statistical Mechanics of a Gas of Diatomic Molecules Chapter 10. A Gas of Diatomic Molecules: Comparison with Experiment Chapter 11. Chemical Equilibrium Chapter 12. Transition State Theory: The Physical Content Chapter 13. Transition State Theory: The Motion of an Adsorbed Atom Chapter 14. Transition State Theory: The Rate ConstantChapter 15. Transition State Theory: Calculating the Rate Constant

Author Bio

Horia Metiu is Professor of Chemistry and Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He received his Ph.D. from MIT in 1974. Prof. Metiu has won several Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar awards and is a former Alfred P. Sloan Fellow. He received the Exxon Solid State Chemistry ACS Award, the UCSB Faculty Research Lectureship, and a Senior Humboldt Award. Prof. Metiu is Associate Editor for the Journal of Chemical Physics and a fellow of the American Physical Society and Japan Association for the Promotion of Science.

Related Subjects

1. Mathematics & Statistics for Engineers
2. Chemistry