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Atkins' Physical chemistry
This major revision of the world's leading textbook of physical chemistry has maintained its tradition of accessibility but authority and has brought it thoroughly up to date. The new author team has introduced many innovations. There are new or rewritten chapters on the solid state, on molecular interactions, macromolecules, and electron transfer. Almost every chapter has at least one Box showing the relevance of the material to modern chemistry. All the chapters now conclude with a check list which includes definitions and key equations. The authors have paid special attention to the presentation of mathematical derivations and to the physical interpretation of equations. They have also ensured that the text is highly modular, so that it can be used in different sequences, either atoms first or thermodynamics first. The art program has been redrawn and extended, new Discussion questions have been added, and the Further Information sections have been recast to provide the necessary background in mathematics and physics. The text is fully geared to the web, with full media support. SUPPLEMENTS AND SUPPORT 1. Web site featuring Living Graphs (about 150). Dynamic, interactive graphs that allow experimentation and hands-on learning. Web links to sources of data and other information, as referred to in the book. 2. Student's Solutions Manual containing worked solutions to half the end of chapter exercises and problems in the parent text. 3. Instructor's Solutions Manual, FREE to adopters of the parent text, containing worked solutions to the other half of the end of chapter exercises and problems in the parent text. Contains a CD-ROM with all the illustrations from the text, for use in presentations. 4. MathCad/Mathematica supplement book with CD-ROM to take all living graphs further. NEW TO THIS DT New co-author Julio de Paula, a biophysical chemist, strengthens the text's coverage of biological applications. DT Margin notes provide help with mathematics just where it is needed. DT Boxes added to every chapter to cover biological applications, environmental, materials science and chemical engineering. Each box has two problems, and suggestions for further reading. DT Important equations and definitions added to the 'key concepts' section of every chapter. DT Microprojects used to be separate sections at end of every Part. These (most of them) have been integrated into the appropriate chapter's end-of-chapter exercises. DT More help with the mathematical development of marginal notes are provided, many derivations now include more steps (justifications), the section on mathematical techniques in Further Information sections has been rewritten, as has the Further Information section on concepts of physics. DT Fully integrated media support. The new feature of Living Graphs are flagged by an icon in the textbook, and marginal notes refer the reader to the web links to be found on the book's free web site. DT The chapters are modular so that they may be read in different orders for different courses. Road Maps are provided that suggest different routes through the text for the following types of course (a) thermodynamics first, (b) atoms first (quantum mechanics first). DT There is a separate section in of end-of-chapter exercises specifically for applications. DT End-of-chapter problems for which solutions are provided in the Student's Solutions Manual are now indicated by colour. MODERNIZATION DT More coverage of modern topics throughout the text. Some examples, by section of the PART 1: Illustrations of partial derivatives added Added Boxes, more practical and more biological applications PART 2: Chapter 14 includes computational chemistry Enhancements to quantum mechanics addition of materials science in Chapters 22 and 23 More modern spectroscopy, more computational chemistry Chapter 21: new chapter on molecular interactions Chapter 22 on macromolecules emphasizes polymers and biological polymers PART 3: Organized to make selective use easier (made more modular) Chapter 29: more modern treatment of electron transfer theory in solutions, biological systems, and solid state For a complete list of changes to the book since the last edition, see the web site at www.oup.com/pchem7
Paperback
First published January 5, 1978
About the author
Peter Atkins
186 books195 followersPeter William Atkins is an English chemist and a Fellow of Lincoln College at the University of Oxford. He retired in 2007. He is a prolific writer of popular chemistry textbooks, including Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Molecular Quantum Mechanics. Atkins is also the author of a number of popular science books, including Atkins' Molecules, Galileo's Finger: The Ten Great Ideas of Science and On Being.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 25, 2015
It was the book that I read selectively when I was in my Sr. Secondary; and read it, more or less, from cover to cover in my graduation. I remember it as a beautiful book that enriched my knowledge of physical chemistry and made my fundamentals stronger. It's been many years now since I read anything related to Chemistry, but I will remember this book, along with Organic Chemistry by Morrison & Boyd, that I enjoyed reading thoroughly.
November 15, 2020
This is an amazing book on physical chemistry. Its scope is all-encompassing and it's written in a pleasant pedagogical style, as is usual for any book from Atkins. While it may not be suited for absolute beginners, the crowd that already has some knowledge on the subject will surely enjoy it. I know I have!
December 11, 2013
I'm not entirely sure why this book receives so many negative reviews from students of chemistry. It's not perfect, but I don't know of a book that gives a better general overview of physical chemistry. Point me towards it if you know of one.
May 29, 2016
9th edition. I saw some reviews that were bewildered to see the low ratings. Here is why I give this book a low rating:
I have gone through this whole book over the last year. As I read it, and especially towards chapters 17,18,19,20,21, things feel really jumbled around. I will go through a passage, feel like I understand it, and then I see an example using definitions that it had not previously introduced. It often skips many steps. I was doing Ch 15 homework, and the equation I was supposed to use for one of them was from Ch 16. I'm not there yet! The homework used equations or forms of the primary equation that were not introduced and not listed in the end-chapter formulas list. If it did, then it would just be printed with nothing really being said about it, but I'm expected to apply it. These were common problems for me. I am predisposed towards biochemistry, and physical chemistry just doesn't work for me. This book doesn't work for me.
At the very end of all my physical chemistry courses, I have been fortunate enough to find the classic big red book: McQuarrie & Simon. That book has been a lifesaver. I have been learning physical chemistry for the first time in my life, albeit poorly. It uses words to keep you on track, followed by the equations. I feel like McQuarrie puts things in to English much better than Atkins. I also feel like McQuarrie is better at putting things in to the overall context of what we are doing and what our end goal is. The flow of the chapters is very tight... they roll into each other nicely. When McQuarrie talks about derivative or integrated forms of these equations, there is context and it explains more deeply what is happening when you apply the derivative forms.
I have gone through the entire Atkins book during my courses, and I have hardly learned anything from it. McQuarrie & Simon lifts the veil. If Atkins works for you, then that's great. If it isn't working for you, try McQuarrie. It's a little more reading than Atkins but I get through it way faster because I spend less time trying to decode everything.
I have gone through this whole book over the last year. As I read it, and especially towards chapters 17,18,19,20,21, things feel really jumbled around. I will go through a passage, feel like I understand it, and then I see an example using definitions that it had not previously introduced. It often skips many steps. I was doing Ch 15 homework, and the equation I was supposed to use for one of them was from Ch 16. I'm not there yet! The homework used equations or forms of the primary equation that were not introduced and not listed in the end-chapter formulas list. If it did, then it would just be printed with nothing really being said about it, but I'm expected to apply it. These were common problems for me. I am predisposed towards biochemistry, and physical chemistry just doesn't work for me. This book doesn't work for me.
At the very end of all my physical chemistry courses, I have been fortunate enough to find the classic big red book: McQuarrie & Simon. That book has been a lifesaver. I have been learning physical chemistry for the first time in my life, albeit poorly. It uses words to keep you on track, followed by the equations. I feel like McQuarrie puts things in to English much better than Atkins. I also feel like McQuarrie is better at putting things in to the overall context of what we are doing and what our end goal is. The flow of the chapters is very tight... they roll into each other nicely. When McQuarrie talks about derivative or integrated forms of these equations, there is context and it explains more deeply what is happening when you apply the derivative forms.
I have gone through the entire Atkins book during my courses, and I have hardly learned anything from it. McQuarrie & Simon lifts the veil. If Atkins works for you, then that's great. If it isn't working for you, try McQuarrie. It's a little more reading than Atkins but I get through it way faster because I spend less time trying to decode everything.
September 12, 2022
Its a love/hate relationship, but at the end of the day I still come back to it with a smile on my face❤️
August 19, 2024
Ouchie my head hurt read this
May 10, 2014
A noble work of the intellect
Murray Rothland wrote, “Every once in a while the human race pauses in the job of botching its affairs and redeems itself by a noble work of the intellect”. Atkins book is just such a noble work. Rare is it to find a technical text that reads more like a novel, but Atkins does. Not only is the topic fascinating on its own (mostly the physics of molecules), but Atkins raises it to the level of riveting. In those far off years of the university experience for this reader, it was said only a genius could grasp physical chemistry – not true, at least not with Atkins leading the way. Atkins uses varied tools with so many well-chosen angles on description that the reader sees things in nature never realized before. Most often through analogies to what we know well, e.g. the familiar constructive & destructive interference (wave mechanics) applied to wave functions (Schrödinger's sometimes confounding quantum probability description) yielding electron orbitals with shapes that suddenly make sense. That “aha” experience is so frequently felt while reading this book it’s hard to put it down, for anything. There are apparently several versions of this 2006 8th edition. The two in paperback come in color or black-&-white. There’s also 4 years of access to the book’s website, including the text, all its figures, spread sheets and MathCad models. A salute to Oxford University Press and Atkins for this remarkable resource.
Murray Rothland wrote, “Every once in a while the human race pauses in the job of botching its affairs and redeems itself by a noble work of the intellect”. Atkins book is just such a noble work. Rare is it to find a technical text that reads more like a novel, but Atkins does. Not only is the topic fascinating on its own (mostly the physics of molecules), but Atkins raises it to the level of riveting. In those far off years of the university experience for this reader, it was said only a genius could grasp physical chemistry – not true, at least not with Atkins leading the way. Atkins uses varied tools with so many well-chosen angles on description that the reader sees things in nature never realized before. Most often through analogies to what we know well, e.g. the familiar constructive & destructive interference (wave mechanics) applied to wave functions (Schrödinger's sometimes confounding quantum probability description) yielding electron orbitals with shapes that suddenly make sense. That “aha” experience is so frequently felt while reading this book it’s hard to put it down, for anything. There are apparently several versions of this 2006 8th edition. The two in paperback come in color or black-&-white. There’s also 4 years of access to the book’s website, including the text, all its figures, spread sheets and MathCad models. A salute to Oxford University Press and Atkins for this remarkable resource.
October 11, 2015
I love this book! It is really well written. There is a lot of material and I wouldn't necessary recommend carrying it around in your book bag like I did, unless you have to, you will end up with back problems - but this is truly comprehensive. The illustrations are very helpful and match with the text. Atkins and team did a great job of thoroughly explaining the concepts. I found this text to be extremely useful in teaching me P chem. Everyone else bombed their exams because they were trying to learn from the lectures. I did really well because I had this book. Every concept is explained extremely clearly and easily. If you read through, all the concepts make sense. Many other science books are really dry and are hard to follow. But not this one. This is one of my favorites - and I have been forced to read a lot of science books in my day.
March 24, 2011
Best book in the world for physical chemistry
September 10, 2016
What can I say? One of the quintessential chemistry books, a true bible of physical chemistry. A must for any true chemist, my go-to reference for P.Chem.
April 29, 2019
Awesome text book for physical chemistry ....... In undergraduate level.
Love reading it.
Love reading it.
July 12, 2023
Although it doesn't have all of the mathematical proof, it has a clear point of view. I advise you to read Atkins' text but focus on the Alberti problems.
Atkins alone probably won't give you a better knowledge of thermodynamics; you'll need to work through all the problems.
Atkins alone probably won't give you a better knowledge of thermodynamics; you'll need to work through all the problems.
April 11, 2020
A bookshelf staple for physical chemists.
September 27, 2023
Go suck ya mum
June 25, 2008
Granted, I have the 7th edition of this, but it was lovely.
January 1, 2017
Could use a proof section for those sections which are mathematics heavy, where they treat the proof as they do in theoretical chemistry papers. Otherwise, quite well written.
May 24, 2017
It was like stepping into another world.
This was my chemistry text book for two years and I would sometimes spend a morning on one single page.
Great book, great book.
This was my chemistry text book for two years and I would sometimes spend a morning on one single page.
Great book, great book.
April 13, 2019
Well-written and easy to understand.
August 17, 2019
One of the best texts available in physical chemistry. It blends authority of the author with continuous revision and width of material coverage. It suits all sorts of undergraduate courses.
Read
September 20, 2019Want to read it
October 20, 2019
Simply a must-read for every natural sciences student.
March 25, 2020
good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2020
it is the best
June 18, 2021
I love this book
December 13, 2023
Well explained but made me cry multiple times.
February 12, 2024
hard 2 read, but im a C grade chem grad
July 27, 2024
The more you read, the less you fell like you understand. Truly magic.
June 29, 2023
Penomenal. Miles above the 10th edition. One of the few books that almost brought tears to my eyes. I mean it made me want to cry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2020
A wonderful resource for the course colleges use to elminate potential graduate students. Luckily, I happened upon the best edition of the text that I've seen to use for my P-Chem course.
April 1, 2008
I picked this book for the P-Chem class I taught at Brigham Young University. It was the first edition of the book and I guess they didn't take sufficient time to proof it...especially the problems and solutions. The book was so full of errors that my students completely lost confidence in it. It was a real mess. I abandoned the book at the first opportunity. I haven't looked at any of the later editions believing that a text so poorly done at the beginning couldn't be trusted. I am quite surprised that it has gained such a large following. I assume the errors have been corrected.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews