Chemical Education Today edited by
Book & Media Reviews
Jeffrey Kovac University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 37996-1600
The Quantum in Chemistry, An Experimentalist’s View by Roger Grinter John Wiley & Sons Ltd: West Sussex, UK, 2005. 459 pp. ISBN 0470013184, $65 (paperback). ISBN 0470013176, $165 (cloth). reviewed by Matthew F. Tuchler
The desire to make quantum mechanics less intimidating is a stated goal of many introductory texts. Such a laudatory goal is not often found in an upper-level text presumably because it is expected that the people reading such a book have already overcome their intimidation. In the preface of The Quantum in Chemistry, An Experimentalist’s View, Roger Grinter states that his text is meant for upper-level undergraduates and beginning graduate students and that he has created a text that is “more approachable”. Both of these statements are accurate. In addition, Grinter has created a text that is a pleasure to read and that deserves a place on the shelf of any physical chemist who has an interest in quantum mechanics. Grinter is an experimentalist venturing into an area more commonly reserved for theorists, namely, writing a textbook on quantum mechanics. His overall approach and philosophy is established in the first chapter, The Role of Theory in Physical Sciences, where he discusses the role of models and theory in science: models are descriptive and based on observation; and theory is a hypothesis against which experiment is tested. At the end of the chapter, Grinter equates law, postulate, principle, and hypothesis. While such an equation can lead to confusion among readers who rely on semantic detail and accuracy, Grinter applies it carefully enough in the rest of the text to avoid any real problems. Chapter 2 provides a standard introduction to the failures of classical mechanics in the 19th and early 20th century that led to the development of quantum mechanics. Chapter 3 provides some of the essential tools needed by anyone working as a quantum mechanic. These chapters also establish the format for the remainder of the text. Within the body of the chapters are descriptions of experimental results, introduction of models consistent with the results, and discussion of the significance of the models and results to the growth of quantum chemistry. Grinter also includes some historically important names and anecdotes related to the development of quantum mechanics. Most detailed derivations and examples relevant to concepts in the body of the chapter are not included in the book but, instead, are reserved for either advanced texts or manuscripts listed in the bibliography near the end of each chapter. At the end of chapters, Grinter includes “Boxes” that provide detailed treatment of selected concepts covered in the chapter or introduce a new, related topic. There are Boxes at the end of all chapters other than the first. For example in a Box at the end of the third chapter Grinter, expands on the Heisenberg uncertainty relationship introduced in the body of the chapter, www.JCE.DivCHED.org
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introducing the relationship between time and energy and expanding on commuter relationships among the various components of linear momentum that demonstrate conjugate relationships leading to uncertainty. In general, the Boxes are interesting and useful. One limitation of the book is that the content of these Boxes is not included in the table of contents, thus making them less accessible to the casual reader. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 cover standard subject matter in quantum chemistry: angular momentum, atomic structure and spectroscopy, and molecular structure and spectroscopy, respectively. They are clearly written, interesting to read, but do not allot much space to the details. Grinter seems to be moving quickly through these foundation chapters in order to get to the second half of the text. He is not shy about introducing a topic and stating that he will treat it in more detail in later chapters. Such references are distracting and should probably have been left for footnotes. Also, Grinter begins to use bra-ket notation regularly in these chapters without providing any significant introduction to it. Even an advanced reader would be well served by having a refresher appendix or Box dedicated to a review of bra-ket notation. The second half of the text, chapters 7–12, contains applications that rely on the foundation that has been firmed up in earlier chapters. In chapter 7 Grinter effectively explores the origin and application of crystal field theory (CFT) to transition metals. Up to this point, he has mainly relied upon experimental results as the inspiration for the development of the associated theory. In his discussion of CFT, however, he starts with the theory and then shows how it is consistent with experiment. He also makes it clear that from this point forward in the text, the synergy between theory and experiment will be highlighted and that this is essential for the continued and rapidly increasing development of the field. Various spectroscopies are discussed in chapters 8–11. Grinter starts with a general picture of the interaction of light with matter, and then moves through vibrational, nuclear magnetic, infrared, and electronic spectroscopy. He relies on classical analogs, where possible, to achieve his goal of creating a more approachable treatment. When he does this, he clearly states that he is using these analogs and that such use should not be taken literally. Legitimate criticism can be made regarding over-reliance on classical analogs, but Grinter strikes a good balance between precision and pedagogy. Finally, the problems at the end of each chapter are not extensive, which should not be a problem for anyone wishing to use this text in a course because of the large number of problems that are available in other texts, both introductory and advanced. This text is recommended for upper-division undergraduates and first-year graduates. Although a solid introduction to quantum mechanics is necessary, if you have such a background The Quantum in Chemistry: An Experimentalist’s View is an enjoyable and educational read that will serve well as a textbook for upper level undergraduate or beginning graduate courses. Matthew Tuchler is a member of the Department of Chemistry, Washington & Lee University, Lexington, VA 24450;
[email protected].
Vol. 84 No. 6 June 2007
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Journal of Chemical Education
935
