Book and Media Review pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Review of Physical Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences John H. Shibata* Department of Chemistry, The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee 37383, United States Physical Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences, by Raymond Chang and John W. Thoman, Jr. University Science Books: Mill Valley, California, 2014. xvi + 951 pp. ISBN: 9781891389696 (hardcover). $134.50.
pressures, and real gases. I was pleased to see that in addition to the van der Waals equation, other equations of state for real gases, such as the Redlich−Kwong equation, are described. The kinetic theory of gases is discussed in Chapter 2, introducing the Maxwell velocity distribution and the Maxwell speed distribution functions. Although a detailed derivation of the distribution functions is not presented, background information to rationalize the distribution functions is discussed. Chapters 3 and 4 describe the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The Joule−Thomson effect is described well, especially its application to liquefaction of gases. In Chapter 4, entropy is introduced in terms of the natural logarithm of the probability. The thermodynamic definition of entropy is then presented for the expansion of an ideal gas at constant temperature, which is then generalized to any process at constant temperature. A discussion of the meaning of entropy then leads to the Boltzmann equation for entropy. Several examples of calculating the change in entropy for different processes are presented. Chapter 5 focuses on the Gibbs and Helmholtz energies, introducing these energies as a consequence of the second law when applied at constant pressure and temperature or constant volume and temperature, respectively. The Gibbs energy is then applied to phase equilibria. Chapters 6−9 cover nonelectrolyte and electrolyte solutions, phase diagrams, chemical equilibrium, and electrochemistry. A number of interesting applications are described, including the thermodynamics of rubber elasticity, the Donnan effect involving proteins, and the binding of metal ions to macromolecules. If students wish to further explore these and other applications, suggestions for further reading are found at the end of each chapter. Chapter 10 begins with a historical development of quantum mechanics, followed by a description of the postulates of quantum mechanics, which are then applied to the particle in a box system. Interestingly, microwave and infrared spectroscopy are discussed before the electronic structure of atoms and molecules are presented, along with a brief description of molecular symmetry in chapter 11. The electronic structure of atoms and molecules are then presented in chapters 12−13. Note: term symbols are omitted in the book. Although I have not applied atomic units in teaching quantum chemistry prior to using this book, they do help simplify the appearance of the Schrö dinger equation making the equation appear less formidable to students. A fairly detailed presentation of Hückel molecular orbital theory is presented. Electronic spectroscopy and magnetic resonance spectroscopy discussed in chapter 14 complete the main portion of quantum chemistry and spectroscopy.
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aymond Chang and John W. Thoman, Jr. have written a physical chemistry textbook for a standard one-year physical chemistry course for chemistry students typically in their third or fourth year of college. Physical Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences covers the usual topics expected of an introductory physical chemistry textbook, beginning with thermodynamics and electrochemistry in Chapters 1−9, quantum mechanics and molecular spectroscopy in Chapters 10−14, and chemical kinetics in Chapter 15. The book concludes with chapters on photochemistry, intermolecular forces, solids, liquids, and statistical thermodynamics. Although the book begins with thermodynamics, it can easily be adapted to courses that begin with quantum mechanics and molecular spectroscopy rather than thermodynamics. Ancillaries that are available include a student’s solutions manual, an instructor’s solutions manual, online access to all figures, and an online homework system.
Cover image provided by University Science Books and reproduced with permission.
In selecting a physical chemistry textbook from the several choices that are available, there is much to like about this book. The writing style is straightforward and clear, and many of the derivations are annotated at critical steps, leading up to the final result. There are wide margins for writing brief notes, well marked examples throughout the book, uncluttered figures, and key equations that are listed at the end of each chapter. Lengthy derivations of selected equations are detailed in appendices to the chapters. And finally, a glossary at the end of the book includes the chapter section where a term is first used. These features, and the overall size of the book (951 pages), contribute to the student friendliness of the book. The textbook begins with an introduction to gases, and covers the usual topics such as the ideal gas law, partial © XXXX American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.
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DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00539 J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
Downloaded by 120.39.97.212 on August 22, 2015 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date (Web): August 5, 2015 | doi: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00539
Journal of Chemical Education
Book and Media Review
The chapter on kinetics is very straightforward, beginning with a discussion of rate laws for zero-, first-, and second-order reactions, followed by reaction mechanisms and theories of reaction rates. A description of the methods to determine the rate order of a reaction is summarized well, and will undoubtedly be useful to students for solving kinetics problems. Both collision theory and transition-state theory are introduced to give readers an overview and comparison of the two theories for simple gas-phase reactions. Enzyme kinetics concludes the chapter on kinetics. The remaining topics include photochemistry, intermolecular forces, the solid state, the liquid state, and statistical thermodynamics. These topics are each the subject of a separate chapter and can be easily incorporated where it best fits in the physical chemistry course. I have effectively used this textbook for a one-semester course on quantum chemistry and spectroscopy. Topics that I emphasized more than the textbook, and consequently supplemented with additional materials, include molecular symmetry, group theory, and computational chemistry. In contrast, I de-emphasized Hückel molecular orbital theory. If I were to use this book for teaching thermodynamics and kinetics, I would expand on the topics of the kinetics of complex reactions, potential energy surfaces, and transitionstate theory. A mild criticism of the book is that some figures appear outdated and some topics could be expanded and presented in a more contemporary way. For example, given the importance of computational chemistry in all areas of chemistry, more emphasis on this topic is justified. In determining the integrated rate law for a second-order reaction, A + B → products, the method of partial fractions is mentioned as a “tedious, but straightforward” method to obtain the final result. It seems worth referring to mathematical software and Web sites as ways to easily obtain the result. In a schematic diagram for a stoppedflow kinetics experiment, an oscilloscope is depicted as a means to display a plot of the detected signal rather than a computer. Finally, in the analysis of Michaelis−Menten enzyme kinetics, linearization of kinetics data is described using either the Lineweaver−Burk plot or the Eadie−Hofstee plot to analyze for the Michaelis constant, KM, and the maximum rate, VM. Applying a nonlinear least-squares fit routine to directly analyze enzyme kinetics data to avoid linearization is not mentioned. Instructors adopting this book will thus need to be aware of modernizing selected topics and incorporating additional materials where needed. In summary, Physical Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences is an admirable physical chemistry textbook in terms of readability and organization. As both authors have served on the Chemistry Graduate Record Examination Committee, one is reasonably assured that the coverage of physical chemistry topics is comprehensive. The topics are presented in a direct manner, focusing on the concepts by placing several lengthy derivations of equations in chapter appendices. If you are considering physical chemistry textbooks for a course, then this book should be on your list of books to examine.
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DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00539 J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
