Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics (Complementary Science) [Paperback]

James E. House (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0123567750 | ISBN-13: 978-0123567758 | Publication Date: July 8, 1998 | Edition: 1st

The Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics provides a clear exposition of the principles of quantum mechanics and its applications for chemistry students. In easy-to-understand terminology, the reader is taken from the early developments in physics that led to quantum mechanics through topics that are essential to understanding modern chemistry and physics. Only a basic knowledge of calculus and introductory chemistry is required. The book is designed for self-study and provides fully developed mathematical details. It stresses the applications of the harmonic oscillator, rigid rotor, barrier penetration, and hydrogen atom models. Topics dealing with chemical bonding, symmetry, and molecular orbitals provide the background necessary for the study of quantum mechanics at a more advanced level.

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* Presents the principles of quantum mechanics and their applications in a clear, readable manner
* Designed for self-study
* Provides full development of mathematical details and derivations
* Stresses multiple applications of the quantum mechanical models and methods
* Develops expertise needed for more advanced study

Editorial Reviews

Review

"....The book includes a significant amount of useful information, logically organized and presented at a reasonable level for nonspecialists in physics or physical chemistry. Particular attention is paid to topics of interest to chemists...."
--CHOICE
"Perhaps the greatest strength of this [book] is the author's ability to take what is often perceived as an abstract field of study and relate this material to practical applications."
--CLARKE W. EARLY, Kent State University

About the Author

James E. House is Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at Illinois State University, where he taught for 32 years. His teaching included a wide range of courses in general chemistry, inorganic chemistry, chemical kinetics, and special topics courses in solid state, nuclear, and descriptive chemistry. He also served as Visiting Professor of Chemistry and Advanced Studies at the University of Illinois in 1991 and Visiting Professor at Illinois Wesleyan University in 1997 and 2002. His research led to 135 publications in professional journals, many of them dealing with kinetics of reactions in solids. House was also active in the Illinois Academy of Sciences. He served as its President in 1976 and as Editor of the Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences for five years and is an elected Fellow of the Academy. He is included in American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who in Technology, and Outstanding Educators of America (1972). In recent years, House has become interested in airguns, which led to his book American Air Rifles (Krause, 2001). He is on the editorial boards of two magazines in that field and writes for several others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 279 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 1st edition (July 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0123567750
• ISBN-13: 978-0123567758
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,214,208 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:

3.0 out of 5 stars A niche-defining and filling book!, February 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics (Complementary Science) (Paperback)

John House's Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics, 1st ed., is a delightful book to have in one's collection. The handy size and paper binding give it a "field-guide-ish" quality, making the study and review of quantum mechanical fundamentals practical almost anywhere.

His depth and breadth of coverage are solid. I particularly like his end-of-chapter references, as he includes some introductory chemistry and physics texts, in addition to the standards. In this way, his text functions as a true bridge between freshman chemistry and upper level undergraduate/first year graduate chemistry.

I give Dr. House's Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics a rating of three stars for the following three reasons: 1. solutions to the problems would benefit many students/readers traversing this bridge, 2. the name differential equations in chapter six are all second order, first degree, ordinary, linear differential equations with variable coefficients; curious students/readers may get frustrated when they don't find the solutions to these equations in mathematical references under non-linear differential equations, and 3. the treatment of angular momentum could be increased a bit. Dr. House's Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics is a gem; adding problem solutions and an amended differential equation terminology to a second edition might set it in gold.

3.0 out of 5 stars A niche-defining and filling book!, February 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics (Complementary Science) (Paperback)

John House's Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics, 1st ed., is a delightful book to have in one's collection. The handy size and paper binding give it a "field-guide-ish" quality, making the study and review of quantum mechanical fundamentals practical almost anywhere.

His depth and breadth of coverage are solid. I particularly like his end-of-chapter references, as he includes some introductory chemistry and physics texts, in addition to the standards. In this way, his text functions as a true bridge between freshman chemistry and upper level undergraduate/first year graduate chemistry.

I give Dr. House's Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics a rating of three stars for the following three reasons: 1. solutions to the problems would benefit many students/readers traversing this bridge, 2. the name differential equations in chapter six are all second order, first degree, ordinary, homogeneous, linear differential equations with variable coefficients; curious students/readers may get frustrated when they don't find the solutions to these equations in mathematical references under non-linear differential equations, and 3. the treatment of angular momentum could be increased a bit. Dr. House's Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics is a gem; adding problem solutions and an amended differential equation terminology to a second edition might set it in gold.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Understanding, December 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics (Complementary Science) (Paperback)

The book itself is very good. It goes in depth with Quantum Mechanics, but fails to state alot of the variables leaving you to guess them for youself. Other than that it has all the basic and complex equations dealing with Quantum Physics.