Atkin's Physical
Chemistry is one of the most informative and most highly appreciated textbooks
in the field of physical chemistry, covering topics from equilibrium through
properties of gases to thermodynamic laws and physical transformations of
materials. The book also touches on such key matters as quantum theory, atomic
structure, molecular symmetry, and molecular spectroscopy. Advanced subjects are
also covered namely, statistical thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and
molecular reaction dynamics. The book is suited for students and researchers
wishing to delve deeper into the principles that govern chemical behavior at the
molecular level, explained clearly and in depth.
This textbook
takes a practical approach to physical chemistry by providing an application of
the fundamental principles in real settings. The first topics in this textbook
include the first and second laws of thermodynamics, Gibbs free energy, phase
equilibria, chemical equilibrium, electrochemical principles, quantum chemistry,
and statistical mechanics. It dwells on three-dimensional systems and the
time-dependent Schrödinger equation in which quite complex chemical dynamics can
be explained in further detail. It is especially for advanced learners and helps
them achieve theoretical knowledge as well as practical insights into the
behavior of chemical systems and their interactions in various environments.
This is a very broad textbook since it focuses on teaching various
topics in physical chemistry, including chemical thermodynamics and equilibrium.
It goes through the concepts involved in entropy, phase equilibrium, ionic
equilibrium, and surface chemistry. These all help towards setting a good basis
for physical principles that drive chemical reaction. The book also covers
electrochemistry with a very detailed look at electrochemical processes and
their applications. The text can also be considered a master resource for
undergraduates and graduate students studying chemistry. It has clearly
explained the fundamental ideas of physical chemistry.