Customer Reviews

Thermodynamics and Chemistry

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I wish the book of Howard DeVoe to bear the rating of five stars. After comparing it with a few other chemical-thermodynamics books on the market, I come to the opinion that it is the most clear and concise treatment of the subject (written either in English or Russian). Conceptually, it inherits much from the well-known books of Denbigh and Adkins, but it is modern, more precise and formal, and provides a wealth of relevant illustrations from recent experimental studies. Another merit is that it follows exactly the IUPAC rules (with one or two exceptions explained in the text). The conventional standard states are described in detail and given a due emphasis throughout the text.
I recommend DeVoe strongly to anyone concerned with teaching of physical chemistry. It is a treasure for a teacher who seeks for the best way of presenting the matter. Of course, it is rather condensed and too deep for undergraduates, but, in fact, it may be accessible to them.
My only grudge is related to the basics of mathematics. All modern textbooks on thermodynamics are ready to explain the vital difference between exact and inexact differentials, and all, including this one, avoid stating clearly what they mean under the differential. I think anyone fresh or refreshed in elementary calculus should feel uneasy about the notion of inexact differentials. The situation remains unsatisfactory, as was decades ago, and it is high time for moving towards a more sound mathematical framework. This has already been done in some advanced physics courses. The interested reader may consult for this issue Frankel's "The Geometry of Physics" or Bamberg & Sternberg's "A Course in Mathematics for Students of Physics". But these books, especially the former, are hard for those with a modest training in mathematics.