Thermodynamics and Its Applications (Prentice-Hall International Series in the Physical and Chemical Engineering Sciences) [Hardcover]

Michael Modell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1983 | ISBN-10: 013915017X | ISBN-13: 978-0139150173 | Edition: 2 Sub

Based on the authors' graduate courses at MIT, this text and reference provides a unified understanding of both the critical concepts of chemical thermodynamics and their applications.Part I of this book provides the theoretical basis of classical thermodynamics, including the 1st and 2nd laws, the Fundamental Equation, Legendre transformations, and general equilibrium criteria. Part II contains an extensive description of how thermodynamic properties are correlated, modeled, manipulated and estimated. Both macroscopic, empirically-based and molecular-level approaches are discussed in-depth, for pure components and mixtures. New, detailed coverage shows how traditional macroscopic models are connected to their roots at the molecular level. Part III presents applications of classical thermodynamics in detail. The book connects theory with applications at every opportunity, using extensive examples, classroom problems and homework exercises.Chemical engineering and physical chemistry graduate courses in thermodynamics.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The most comprehensive, rigorous treatment of graduate level chemical thermodynamics for chemical engineers. Based on the authors' graduate courses at MIT, this text and reference provides a unified understanding of both the critical concepts of chemical thermodynamics and their applications. Part I provides the theoretical basis of classical thermodynamics, including the 1st and 2nd laws, the Fundamental Equation, Legendre transformations, and general equilibrium criteria. Part II contains an extensive description of how thermodynamic properties are correlated, modeled, manipulated and estimated. Both macroscopic, empirically-based and molecular-level approaches are discussed in-depth, for pure components and mixtures. New, detailed coverage shows how traditional macroscopic models are connected to their roots at the molecular level. Part III presents applications of classical thermodynamics in detail. The book connects theory with applications at every opportunity, using extensive examples, classroom problems and homework exercises. For chemical engineering and physical chemistry graduate courses in thermodynamics. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 450 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 Sub edition (March 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 013915017X
• ISBN-13: 978-0139150173
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,947,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but not understandable, December 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Thermodynamics and Its Applications (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

A student five years above me did not like this book. A student four years above me also did not like this book. A student two years above me did not like it either. A student a year above me hated this book. And what a surprise, I didn't like it either. See the pattern?

There are several reasons why so many people dislike this book. First of all, the style of the writing is very roundabout and philosophical. If you're reading this book out of interest, it can be interesting. But when you actually have to solve the problems in the back of the chapter by the next day, this indirect approach can be annoying, since you never really know what you really need to know.

The first few chapters based on the First and Second Law are written well, compared to the rest of the book. Chapter 9 is a horrible chapter (on Mixtures) with 200+ Equations in the chapter. Not that having 200+ equations is bad in itself, but the way the chapter is written, you have no idea what equations are important.

Chapter 10 on Classical Stat Mech is also very difficult to read. If you've studied Stat Mech before, it may not be too bad. For someone who's never seen Stat Mech, the chapter takes hours to read, and after you've read it, you still have absolutely no idea what the book is trying to say.

As for buying this book, if you're really into thermodynamics and you really love and understand it, you might like this book. For a professor, it might be a refreshing read. For normal people who have to buy this book, since it's required for a class -- I feel your pain. Do the world a favor -- once you're done with the book, give it away to someone younger who also needs to suffer through it. I guarantee you that once you're done with it, you'll never pick it up again (and find yourself picking up Smith and Van Ness instead).

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible book, difficult read, July 22, 2004

By 

B. Andrzejewski "daimyo505" (ABQ, NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thermodynamics and Its Applications (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

I have taken 3 years of thermodynamics with different books. This book being the worst! I felt I 'delearned' after trying to read some of the chapters. The early chapters were good in explaining the basis of thermodynamics. The rest of the book is way too general, the equations are derived for extremely general cases and it makes trying to relate to real world situations near impossible. The problems at the end of the chapters are not easy and there are NO good examples within the chapters. The problems are written poorly and often open to interpretation so students can get 5 or 6 different answers to one problem. If you are forced to use this book I would recommend that you do NOT read the chapters, only work the problems. Buy a different book to study thermodynamics from.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars it is a master level book, October 1, 2010

By 

wensheng wang - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thermodynamics and Its Applications (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

In grad school, I saw my supervisor had this book on his table. It is his favorite. He used this book teaching one of the classes I took. I solved some problems from the book. The problems were very challenging, but going through the process of solving such problems was really enjoying and rewarding. Thermodynamics itself is not intuitive and very easy to misunderstand. The book was not written for beginners but for those who have already learned an introductory course. If you want to reach a very high level in thermodynamics, it won't disappoint you.