The Elements of Physical Chemistry [Hardcover]

P. W. Atkins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0716730774 | ISBN-13: 978-0716730774 | Publication Date: August 1996 | Edition: 2nd

A simplified version of the fourth edition of "Physical Chemistry" by the same author. New arguments and insights into the subject have been developed and attention has been paid to providing an increased emphasis on biochemical applications.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 499 pages
• Publisher: W H Freeman & Co (Sd); 2nd edition (August 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716730774
• ISBN-13: 978-0716730774
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #935,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing Text, June 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Elements of Physical Chemistry (Hardcover)

As an instructor I found this text VERY DISAPPOINTING. It has many errors that persist to the 2nd edition. In addition, there are several instances in which references are made to sections that are only found in Atkin's larger P-Chem text. I attribute this to simple lack of effort on the part of the author and publisher. The errors and inconsistencies have made this text difficult to use. In addition, for students with the background to understand straight forward calculus based descriptions, it was confusing to wade through algebraic description before encoutering the proper "justification" at the end.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Wholly disappointing, December 14, 2005

By 

Prof01 - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Elements of Physical Chemistry (Hardcover)

Another instructor's viewpoint:

This text is not worth utilizing. It has many errors -- in the text, in the sample problems, in the book-end answers, and in the accompanying student solution's guide.

A note regarding the recently-released 4th edition: It's no better! I recieved an evaluation copy and found many of the same errors propagated into the new edition. And the "online" student solution guide does not exist (as of Dec 15, 2005). I'm sure it made teaching the course especially difficult for those who used the new edition this past Fall.

Atkins is a great author for the 2-semester calculus-based course, but everyone involved with the production of this text should consider what they're doing with greater scrutiny.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pick another Atkins text, January 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Elements of Physical Chemistry (Hardcover)

While the descriptions in the book are helpful, I reccomend you pick another Atkins text. Both my class and my professor are unhappy with this selection. The book has many contradictions and innacuracies, and while the correct parts may be very good, a text book _must_ be reliable. It is important to know what is true from the errors. For this reason I used another Atkins text. "Physical Chemistry" 5th edition is accurate and helpful. (I've heard the 6th edition of "Physical Chemistry" also has errors.) "Physical Chemistry" is calculus based, so be aware that a math background is helpful (including Multivariable Calculus). The solutions manual to this book is _full_ of errors.