Page 12 - Instant notes

PREFACE

Physical chemistry is an unexpected shock to many university students. From the semi-
empirical approaches of the school laboratory, first year undergraduates suddenly find
themselves propelled into an unexpected quagmire of definitions and equations. Worse
still, although the applicability of the subject is sometimes obvious, studying the behavior
of a particle in an infinitely deep well can seem nothing short of farcical on first
approach.
In any scientific discipline, a fundamental understanding is more important than
learning lists, but this is probably more true in physical chemistry than in other branches
of chemistry. Let’s be clear from the outset—understanding is the key to physical
chemistry, but the maelstrom of mathematics often clouds the student’s ability to create a
comprehensible mental model of the subject.
As the authors of this text, we therefore found ourselves in a paradoxical situation—
writing a book containing lists of facts on a subject which isn’t primarily about lists of
facts. So although this book is primarily a revision text we did not wish it to be merely an
encyclopedia of equations and definitions. In order that the conceptual content of the
book is given sufficient weight to aid understanding, we have limited the extent of the
mathematical treatments to the minimum required of a student. The rigorous arguments
which underpin much of physical chemistry are left for other authors to tackle, with our
own recommendations for further reading included in the bibliography.
Since our primary aim has been to produce a quick reference and revision text for all
first and second year degree students whose studies include physical chemistry, we have
recognized that different aspects of the subject are useful in different fields of study. As
NMR spectroscopy is to a biochemist’s protein study, so is band theory to the solid state
chemist, and thermodynamics to the chemical engineer. With this in mind, we have
drawn not just on our own teaching experiences, but have consulted with colleagues in
the life sciences and in other physical sciences. The rigor of the central themes has not
been diluted, but the content hopefully reflects the range of scientists for whom physical
chemistry is an important supplement to their main interests.
In organizing the layout of the book, we have aimed to introduce the various aspects
of physical chemistry in an order that gives the opportunity for continuous reading from
front to back with the minimum of cross-referencing. Thus we start with the basic
properties of matter which allows us then to discuss thermodynamics. Thermodynamics
leads naturally into equilibria, solutions and then kinetics. The final sections on bonding
and spectroscopy likewise follow on from the foundations laid down in the section on
quantum mechanics. The background to a range of important techniques is included in
the appropriate sections, and once again this reflects the wide application of the subject
matter as with, for example, electrophoresis and electro-osmosis.
Whatever your background in coming to this book, our objective has been to use our
own perspectives of physical chemistry to aid your insight of the subject. Physical