Customer Reviews

Chemical, Biochemical, and Engineering Thermodynamics

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

If you know more or less what eng and or chem thermo is about and feel more advanced and confident in this subject and do not need/want a 'Book-For-Dummies', then go and purchase the world-wide highly renowned textbook by Stanley I. Sandler. This has now become the definitive standard and top reference in class. It is full of words and formulas, tables, charts and illustrations, examples, problems, diagrams and appendices, all presented in a modern, attractive manner. You can use it as a 'detailed text' or as a 'look-up reference'. Due to the nature of the subject matter, this book is not 'easy': a complete, detailed, thorough book on a hard, dry subject will result in a hard (and dry?) reading for anybody! Nevertheless, the modern, beautiful presentation will make the reader's efforts worthwhile. This is not an "enjoyable" reading as such, but the most in-depth, thorough, detailed, modern treatment for class. I consider this book a must-have reference on your ChemE bookshelf. If you go for *one* book only on thermo, then buy Sandler's. rated: Strong Buy for anybody. Even after having mastered this subject, this book will *still* serve as a valuable tool: as a detailed ("advanced") intro text and as a fine look-up reference. Sandler's book *is* a monograph, and it should be titled "Fundamentals of Chemical Thermodynamics" only, because it does not cover much of "Engineering Thermodynamics" (see books by Moran/Shapiro or Yunus A. Cengel for fantastic intro tomes on eng thermo. see also book by Smith/VanNess/Abbott 2001.). This book is a challenge, but if you are a smart learner and can handle this hard subject matter, there is no better intro or advanced text on chemical thermodynamics, chemical engineering thermodynamics or phase/physical/chemical equilibria! No doubt a 5-stars rating.
Please also read my pos reviews of thermo books by Noel de Nevers 2002 and Stanley M. Walas 1985. See also my neg review of thermo book by Smith/VanNess/Abbott 2001. For a complete listing of relevant thermo titles have a look at table 8-1, pages 8.2-8.4, in Poling/Prausnitz/O'Connell 5th ed. c2001.

What a major improvement and enlargement of the second edition is this third, new edition! I am stunned. It is ultramodern, even more complete, clearer, highly illustrated, better structured, contains any detail to be imagined with an incredible exactitud. A real textbook that you will use lifetime long to lookup and clear up any problems or questions. I have compared all existing textbooks in different languages incl. German covering Chemical Thermodynamics for Engineers. None reaches the complexity, exactness, clearity and completeness of this outstanding, immense work. Modern, very modern, useful and just beautiful. Nothing seems to be similar to the second edition, but everything new, modern and fully revised and updated. What can I say? This is definitely one of the must haves among Chemical Engineering textbooks, including works by John C. Slattery, Scott H.Fogler and Byron B. Bird. It is more than worth it investing in this book even if you are already in possession of an obsolete second edition.

This book is applauded for its precision and details, but complained for its level of rigor that is not welcomed by an average undergraduate student. Students should have taken physical chemistry or at least be familiar with concepts of thermodynamic mixing in order to read this book.

Discussion on basic laws of thermodynamics is very terse that readers should look elsewhere (i.e. Atkins' Physical Chemistry or McQuarrie's Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach) for such topics. Treatise on liquids, chemical equilibrium, and real substances is excellent. Overall this is not a bad text if you've met the prerequisite.

A tough undergrad textbook but too easy grad textbook, this book has always been looking for a market. If the teacher is good, this textbook can and should be used for undergrad courses. However, most teachers use Smith and Van Ness et al. which has not been edited properly in 20 years. While, S&VN is clearly written it was written in the 1950's when "large calculating machines" were not available to the general public. Sandler's book written originally in the 1980's brought chem eng thermo into the 20th and 21st century. It is a hard book but it is also correct throughout. Sadly most undergrad thermo textbooks are not correct throughout and the author's weaknesses are evident (again few of these books are edited). With Sandler's book the material is precise and correct. Not for the typical undergrad but with a good teacher it is much better than anything out there.

I have been teaching for 3 years at DTU, Denmark in thermodynamic, and has always been looking for a better book then Atkins. Well this is the book I have been looking for. Its very clear written, and explains everything in a very comprehensible way. Well done Sandler!

The material present in the book caters to those who do not know anything abt the subject and also for those who know the basics. It has very good examples which relate to the material in a very cohesive fashion. It will be great to have a solution set for the problems.It is also a great ref. in case the basics are forgotten

I have used this book for the past year in my thermodynamics courses. It is at times a bit confusing, especially when Sandler decides to change notation halfway through the book. Charts and Data are extremely useful however there are some important compounds missing which meant that I had to resort to the web in order to find the data. However this book does easily explain many concepts of thermodynamics. I would recommend this book for thermodynamics courses at the bachelors level.

This book is clearly written for the Master level student. During my Bachelor (Chem Eng) study this book was required. I found the text a bit above Bachelor level and wouldn't recommend it to anyone at this level. However if you are studying thermodynamics at Master level (or above) you'll find this book of great value.

Sandler's book covers a large amount of material with great precision for the definitions and explanations. On the other hand, his work lack pedagogical aids that could help a student internalize complex concept such as fugacity rapidly. My final opinion is that his text would make and excellent piece of reference.

I like this book. Rationale:

1. The mathematical rigor, the absolute only way to communicate anything in the physical sciences, is very much present. If you don't know what total differentials are, as well as simultaneous equations, function notation, differential equations, and the like, don't balk at its presence in this book. It's necessary.

2. The examples (called "Illustrations" for some odd reason) are sufficient in number, and, after doing out the examples myself, key concepts I was missing sunk in, to the credit of Dr. Sandler.

3. Ample Figures and Diagrams well-described.

4. A very good system of equation numbering (it seems that equations simultaneous to each other, or algebraically equivalent are assigned alphabetical suffixes).

5. Plenty of room in the margins to write comments (Sandler encourages this, and I do too).

I could go on. I'll leave you with an algorithm to reading this book that I found helpful:

HOW TO READ THIS BOOK: Use a pencil and take notes on each and every word in this book. Then, go back and recopy the Illustrations into a notebook (or into your computer using any word processor, and MathType, a very nice FREE software package obtainable upon any Google search. I know. A tangent.)...This is working really well, since, as you take notes in the book, you get to skip over the Illustrations (and you get to feel like you're moving fast!), and when you're doing the Illustrations, you get to skip over the text (ditto). It also helps if, when Sandler references an equation in the text (example, "Eq. 6.4-25"), circle this equation reference and write its page number next to it (example, p. 217).

Best Wishes!

UPDATE: This book is not just a model thermodynamics textbook, it's a model for all textbooks.