Environmental Organic Chemistry [Hardcover]

René P. Schwarzenbach (Author), Philip M. Gschwend (Author), Dieter M. Imboden (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471350532 | ISBN-13: 978-0471350538 | Publication Date: June 15, 2002 | Edition: 2

Environmental Organic Chemistry focuses on environmental factors that govern the processes that determine the fate of organic chemicals in natural and engineered systems. The information discovered is then applied to quantitatively assessing the environmental behaviour of organic chemicals. Now in its 2nd edition this book takes a more holistic view on physical-chemical properties of organic compounds. It includes new topics that address aspects of gas/solid partitioning, bioaccumulation, and transformations in the atmosphere.

• Structures chapters into basic and sophisticated sections
• Contains illustrative examples, problems and case studies
• Examines the fundamental aspects of organic, physical and inorganic chemistry - applied to environmentally relevant problems
• Addresses problems and case studies in one volume

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...covers theoretical background and case studies dealing with the physical-chemical properties that govern the fate of organic compounds..." (Environmental Science & Technology, December 1, 2002)

"...a grand effort?Drs. Schwarzenbach, Gschwend, and Imboden...have gone beyond minor revisions and updating by eliminating old chapters and creating new ones to reflect a systems approach to understanding both fundamental theory and state of the art modeling." (Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Vol. 18, No. 6, June 2003)

From the Publisher

Demonstrates how the chemical structure of organic compounds influences the molecular interactions which control transfer and reaction processes in the natural environment. Thoroughly explains how to quantify these processes using the principles of chemistry, physics and biology in a macroscopic environmental system. Focuses on the behavior of major synthetic organic chemicals introduced in large quantities into the environment. Contains more than 100 illustrations, an extensive bibliography and useful reference material such as constants, units and equations. Serves as a text for introductory courses in environmental organic chemistry as well as a source of information for the professional concerned with risk and hazard assessment of organic chemical pollutants in the environment. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1328 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 2 edition (June 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471350532
• ISBN-13: 978-0471350538
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.9 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but complicated, March 8, 2007

By 

Arvind Mohanram (Boulder, CO, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Environmental Organic Chemistry (Paperback)

I am using this book as part of my graduate class. Before I got this book, I was using the old edition, believe me the old edition is much simpler, easier to understand than this new one. They have integrated the book with overwhelming symbols for which they do not even have the key/index. You spend a lot of time figuring out what the symbols mean. So, I would recommend that you try to get a hold of the old edition of the book, however remember that the old edition does not cover the modelling part and does not give you exposure to the problem sets.
So, the bottom line is that if you want to get an understanding and feel of the subject goahead for the old edition, but if this is your core area of research and do not mind a bit of complication in the writing and explanation, go for the new edition.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding text and reference, December 30, 1999

By 

P. Lee Ferguson (Long Island, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Environmental Organic Chemistry (Environmental Science and Technology Series) (Hardcover)

A must have for students and researchers in the field of environmental chemistry. This text pulls together fundamental concepts regarding fate and transport of organic pollutants in a comprehensive and logical manner. I enjoyed reading it the first time when I was using it as a course text, and it has been invaluable as a reference during my research.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps a good reference text, but it's supposed to be a graduate intro text, February 8, 2009

By 

Jeremy Waterman (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Environmental Organic Chemistry (Paperback)

Compared to the 1st edition this text is about twice the size. It is a monstrously large book. However, the book fails to teach the concepts in a clear fashion required when one is just starting in the field. Too much attention is spent to minute details that confound the subject. A great deal of space is used on deriving formulas.

It is without a doubt that the authors are exceptional minds in their fields, and have a fine understanding of the material. However, speaking as a student, they do me no favors in explaining what is going on. This text needs to be rewritten and edited to serve as a useful textbook for graduate students. Until then, the book will possibly be useful as a reference.