Customer Reviews

Physical Chemistry

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I found this book at the library as I was looking for more clarification on topics covered by my professor. Although I did not rely on it much for topics in Thermodynamics, I have found the section on quantum chemistry quiet elucidating for understanding the basics.

I remember when I took P-Chem my instructor said that there is no such thing as a good P-Chem book. I have to agree because each book has their problems. However, this books does a better job than most in explaining the rational as to how the equations are derived. The author also does not talk over your head, and in many areas does a better job in explaining the concepts than most P-Chem books. I can say this because I own six P-chem books: Alberty, Atkins,Barrow, Levine, and Castellan. I find Vemulapalli's book a good resource. Is their problems with it, yes, but those critizing should be more aware of the subject matter, and the fact that it is hard to find a good P-chem book. In fact, if they were any scholar of P-Chem they would have been in the libary exhausting other resources that might explain a certain aspect better than another book. My point is that this is the nature of this subject matter. If you don't like it, you don't have any business taking P-Chem. In closing, Vemulapalli has a good prespective on the subject, and is worth having

We are students who are currently using this text for a physical chemistry course. We realize that physical chemistry is a hard subject, but the fact that the author often seems to not be able to understand or explain the problems or examples himself causes added stress in this subject area. A solutions manual as to how he reaches his answers would be helpful.