Table of Contents

Focus 1: FoundationsMathematical background 1: Differentiation and integrationFocus 2: The principles of quantum mechanicsMathematical background 2: Differential equationsFocus 3: The quantum mechanics of motionMathematical background 3: Complex numbersFocus 4: Approximation methodsFocus 5: Atomic structure and spectraMathematical background 4: VectorsFocus 6: Molecular structureMathematical background 5: MatricesFocus 7: Molecular symmetryFocus 8: InteractionsMathematical background 6: Fourier transformsFocus 9: Molecular spectroscopyFocus 10: Magnetic resonanceFocus 11: Statistical thermodynamicsMathematical background 7: probability theoryFocus 12: The First Law of thermodynamicsMathematical background 8: Multivariate calculusFocus 13: The Second and Third Laws of thermodynamicsFocus 14: Physical equilibriaFocus 15: Chemical equilibriaFocus 16: Molecular motionFocus 17: Chemical kineticsFocus 18: Reaction dynamicsFocus 19: Processes in fluid systemsFocus 20: Processes on solid surfacesResource section

About the Author

Peter Atkins is a fellow of Lincoln College in the University of Oxford and the author of about seventy books for students and a general audience. His texts are market leaders around the globe. A frequent lecturer in the United States and throughout the world, he has held visiting professorships in France, Israel, Japan, China, and New Zealand. He was the founding chairman of the Committee on Chemistry Education of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and was a member of IUPAC's Physical and Biophysical Chemistry Division. Julio de Paula is Professor of Chemistry, Lewis & Clark College. A native of Brazil, Professor de Paula received a B.A. degree in chemistry from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and a Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry from Yale University. His research activities encompass the areas of molecular spectroscopy, biophysical chemistry, and nanoscience. He has taught courses in general chemistry, physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, instrumental analysis, and writing. Ronald Friedman is Professor and Chair of the Chemistry Department at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne. He received a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Virginia, a Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard University, and did postdoctoral work at the University of Minnesota. He teaches general chemistry and physical chemistry at IPFW and has also taught at the University of Michigan and at the Technion (Israel). His research interests are theories of reaction dynamics.

Reviews

I like the book very much. It is clear, concise and pitched at just the right level.
*Dr Simon T. Banks, University College London*

By breaking the text up into 'topics' it is much easier to digest the background material required for more complex chemical subjects, which should be a useful aid for tutors and students
*Dr Grant Hill, University of Glasgow*

The use of conceptual maps to relate the different topics is a very good idea
*Dr Carlos Vázquez-Vázquez, University of Santiago de Compostela*