Physical Chemistry [Hardcover]

Robert J. Silbey (Author), Robert A. Alberty (Author), Moungi G. Bawendi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 047121504X | ISBN-13: 978-0471215042 | Publication Date: July 1, 2004 | Edition: 4

Ever since Physical Chemistry was first published in 1913 (then titled Outlines of Theoretical Chemistry, by Frederick Getman), it has remained a highly effective and relevant learning tool thanks to the efforts of physical chemists from all over the world. Each new edition has benefited from their suggestions and expert advice. The result of this remarkable tradition is now in your hands.

Now revised and updated, this Fourth Edition of  Physical Chemistry by Silbey, Alberty, and Bawendi continues to present exceptionally clear explanations of concepts and methods. The basic theory of chemistry is presented from the viewpoint of academic physical chemists, but detailed discussions of practical applications are integrated throughout. The problems in the book also skillfully blend theory and applications.

Highlights of the Fourth Edition:

• A total of 170 computer problems appropriate for MATHEMATICA^TM, MATHCAD^TM, MATLAB^TM, or MAPLE^TM.
• Increased emphasis on the thermodynamics and kinetics of biochemical reactions, including the denaturation of proteins and nucleic acids.
• Expanded coverage of the uses of statistical mechanics, nuclear magnetic relaxation, nanoscience, and oscillating chemical reactions.
• Many new tables and figures throughout the text.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

How does a chemistry text remain a leader in its field for 80 years?

Ever since Physical Chemistry was first published in 1913 (then titled Outlines of Theoretical Chemistry, by Frederick Getman), it has remained a highly effective and relevant learning tool thanks to the efforts of physical chemists from all over the world. Each new edition has benefited from their suggestions and expert advice. The result of this remarkable tradition is now in your hands.

Now revised and updated, this Fourth Edition of  Physical Chemistry by Silbey, Alberty, and Bawendi continues to present exceptionally clear explanations of concepts and methods. The basic theory of chemistry is presented from the viewpoint of academic physical chemists, but detailed discussions of practical applications are integrated throughout. The problems in the book also skillfully blend theory and applications.

Highlights of the Fourth Edition:

• A total of 170 computer problems appropriate for MATHEMATICA^TM, MATHCAD^TM, MATLAB^TM, or MAPLE^TM.
• Increased emphasis on the thermodynamics and kinetics of biochemical reactions, including the denaturation of proteins and nucleic acids.
• Expanded coverage of the uses of statistical mechanics, nuclear magnetic relaxation, nanoscience, and oscillating chemical reactions.
• Many new tables and figures throughout the text.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 960 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 4 edition (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047121504X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471215042
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 1.5 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Chemistry > Physical & Theoretical > Physical Chemistry

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not enough details for self study but OK with MIT lectures, March 4, 2010

By 

Xiao Hu - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Physical Chemistry (Hardcover)

This book does not contain enough details for self study. Within about 300 pages, it covers chemical engineerning thermadynamics. A proper treatment of this topic takes a lot more, and this is covered in sufficient details in two books by Moran and Sandler. However, this book is used by MIT and MIT offers a free on-line course for this with video lectures. Thanks MIT. The professors are excellent explaining the material. So, only with the help from the professors, I find some value in this book and thus the three star rating on an otherwise one star book.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Reads like a summary of advanced physics texts, not a stand-alone book, November 6, 2011

By 

David Migl (College Station, TX) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Physical Chemistry (Hardcover)

Mathematics is the thread that holds physical chemistry together. Unfortunately, this book eschews mathematical derivations, preferring instead to present the final result and leave math for the students to figure out. This would be fine for physics majors who have already learned advanced mathematics and physics elsewhere. But for non-physics majors like myself, the authors' stubborn refusal to adequately address the underlying mathematics and physics results in the underlying logic of the equations of physical chemistry vanishing behind a mathematical veil.

The author's favorite phrases seem to be "it can be shown that..." and "the [quantity] is given by...", whereafter an equation is given with no explanation of its derivation. This is especially problematic in the chapters on quantum mechanics, where the book reads more like a summary of quantum mechanics books the authors read as students rather than a stand-alone introduction to quantum mechanics.

McQuarrie and Simon's text on physical chemistry does a much better job at this for non-physics majors. It is much bigger but does a much better job on being a self-contained text that explains the mathematics enough for someone who is learning the material for the first time to understand them.

Overall, this book would be great for someone who has already taken advanced undergraduate physics classes (Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Statistical Mechanics) and wants to see how they apply to chemistry. For students with other backgrounds (chemistry, biochemistry), I suggest McQuarrie and Simon.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 'cadillac' of physical chemistry, May 25, 2006

By 

A wanna-be chemist (Falmouth, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Physical Chemistry (Hardcover)

This is not everyone's physical chemistry text. It is the intellectual's source for both the fundamental and advanced canon of physical chemistry. They must be great teachers, the book is clear, thorough and challenging.