Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy with Spartan Student Physical Chemistry Software [Hardcover]

Thomas Engel (Author), Philip Reid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0805339795 | ISBN-13: 978-0805339796

Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy is a groundbreaking new text that explains core topics in depth with a focus on basic principles, applications, and modern research. The authors hone in on key concepts and cover them thoroughly and in detail — as opposed to the general, encyclopedic approach competing textbooks take. Excessive math formalism is avoided to keep readers focused on the most important concepts and to provide greater clarity. Applications woven throughout each chapter demonstrate to readers how chemical theories are used to solve real-world chemical problems in biology, environmental science, and material science. Extensive coverage of modern research and new developments in the field get readers excited about this dynamic branch of science. Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy is a split text (from Physical Chemistry) and is organized to facilitate "Quantum first" courses. The online Chemistry Place for Physical Chemistry features interactive problems and simulations that reinforce and build upon material included in the book. The computational chemistry program Spartan Student Physcial Chemistry Edition is included with each new copy of Engel/Reid's Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy. From Classical to Quantum Mechanics; The Schrödinger Equation; The Quantum Mechanical Postulates; Using Quantum Mechanics on Simple Systems; The Particle in the Box and the Real World; Commuting and Noncommuting Operators and the Surprising Consequences of Entanglement; A Quantum Mechanical Model for the Vibration and Rotation of Molecules; The Vibrational and Rotational Spectroscopy of Diatomic Molecules; The Hydrogen Atom; Many-Electron Atoms; Examples of Spectroscopy Involving Atoms; Chemical Bonding in H^+₂  and H₂; Chemical Bonding in Diatomic Molecules; Molecular Structure and Energy Levels for Polyatomic Molecules; Electronic Spectroscopy; Computational Chemistry; Molecular Symmetry; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy For all readers interested in learning the core topics of quantum chemistry.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thomas Engel has taught chemistry for more than 20 years at the University of Washington, where he is currently Professor of Chemistry and Associate Chair for the Undergraduate Program. Professor Engel received his bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry from the Johns Hopkins University, and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Chicago. He then spent 11 years as a researcher in Germany and Switzerland, in which time he received the Dr. rer. nat. habil. degree from the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich. In 1980, he left the IBM research laboratory in Zurich to become a faculty member at the University of Washington.

Professor Engel's research interests are in the area of surface chemistry, and he has published more than 80 articles and book chapters in this field. He has received the Surface Chemistry or Colloids Award from the American Chemical Society and a Senior Humboldt Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which has allowed him to establish collaborations with researchers in Germany. He is currently working together with European manufacturers of catalytic converters to improve their performance for diesel engines.

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Philip Reid has taught chemistry at the University of Washington since he joined the chemistry faculty in 1995. Professor Reid received his bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound in 1986, and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in 1992. He performed postdoctoral research at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, campus before moving to Washington.

Professor Reid's research interests are in the areas of atmosphere chemistry, condensed-phase reaction dynamics, and nonlinear optical materials. He has published more than 70 articles in these fields. Professor Reid is the recipient of a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation, is a Cottrell Scholar of the Research Corporation, and is a Sloan fellow.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall (April 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805339795
• ISBN-13: 978-0805339796
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,666,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The original idea was good...but the final product leaves much to be desired, February 28, 2007

By 

Eric R. Bittner "ebitnet" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy (Hardcover)

I was actually one of the reviewers of an early version of many of the chapters of this text. The text itself makes a nice set of lecture notes and it progresses at a reasonable slow pace. I found the presentation and graphics to be quite nice and clear as if the publishers took their cues from similarly produced general chemistry texts.

The text is hardly encyclopedic and complete compared to other texts, notably McQuarrie and Simon, Atkins,

or the venerable Berry, Rice, and Ross. We decided to adopt this text for our two semester physical chemistry course hoping that students would like the pace and context -- however, 3/4 of the way through the year, it has been a disaster!

While the original draft had the usual density of typos, I'm astonished that so many made it through to the final version! There are numerous wrong equations--mostly annoying typos. Most damning is the fact that a lot of the molecular data in the text is wrong as are a number of the spectra.

<strong> Since this is supposed to be a

book focusing on spectroscopy, I find no excuse for this. </strong>

Let me give an example, in Table 8.3, which tabulates the vibrational frequencies, bond lengths, rotational constants, etc. for a number of diatomic species, nearly ALL of the vibrational frequencies listed are incorrect in comparison to the NIST database. Furthermore, the ro-vibrational spectra given in the text for HCl and for CO are clearly NOT the experimental spectra since both are systematically shifted relative the correct experimental spectra. (the text's HCl ro-vibrational spectrum is centered at 2991 cm<sup>-1</sub> (where the forbidden Q-branch should be) compared to the experimental value of 2888 cm^-1. Similarly, for CO, the spectrum should be centered at 2170 cm<sup>-1<\sup> and

not at 2143cm^-1.) At least the spectra are consistent with the wrong

data in table 8.3! This crops up repeatedly through out the text. It frustrates the students and it's embarrassing. These may seem to be picky and petty details. However, spectroscopy is all about

making precise measurement of molecular properties and dynamics.

One reviewer commented on the clumsy wording of the problems. I agree. Having worked out

many on my group black-board with frustrated students...the problems leave much to be desired.

Again, the general sprit of the problems is good...the final result is not so good.

On the other hand, my class has decided to make lemonade out of a lemon. We've started the "Great

Typo Hunt" web-site where students can earn extra-credit by finding and confirming new typos in the text!

It's become a great sport!

This book does not live up to my expectations.

I highly suggest avoiding this book until an extreme make-over occurs. Even then, I would suggest looking at at different text.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ugh., September 27, 2006

By 

R. L. Cooper (Kuruman, South Africa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy (Hardcover)

This book sucks. It looks very professional, but upon further inspection one finds numerous errors, a rushed feel, and a lame pedagogical level.

The text itself is generally so-so, decent enough but not at all rigorous enough if you want to actually learn any quantum. If you're going to try for a subject like quantum you might as well go for a book like Lowe or Levine that at least tries for some mathematical complexity. There are numerous errors and typos.

The website for the book is useless. There, I said it.

However, the worst part of the book by far is the problems. They are almost to a man poorly worded, confusing, and RIDDLED WITH TYPOS! There is nothing worse than trying to guess what the author meant to write when doing a problem to make it match with the answer in the back. Also, many of the problems look as through they were cranked through as fast as possible using the same format for each one, which leads to wierd, confusing notation.

Bottom line: don't buy this book. If you for some ungodly reason have the book for a class, make sure to buy or check out Lowe and Levine.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful introduction to quantum chemistry, July 30, 2007

By 

Robert W. Molt Jr. - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy (Hardcover)

This book is meant to be an introduction to quantum chemistry, and it does a wonderful job at that. I am surprised at the other reviews complaining of its lack of rigor...this is meant to be an introduction to the subject. If you want something complete and encyclopedic, fine, go buy McQuarrie or something like that. This is meant as a first course quantum chemistry, and it also does an excellent job of introducing the major ideas necessary for graduate quantum chemistry, and is not afraid of doing the real math and operations necessary.

I feel like people are confusing be willing to explain concisely and in everyday language with lack of rigor.

This is written as a graduate student in chemical physics who majored in both chemistry and physics undergrad.