Page 15 - Physical chemistry eng

xiv PREFACE

student. Art is used to convey complex information in an accessible manner as in the
images here of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.
• Present exciting new science in the field of physical chemistry. Physical chem-
istry lies at the forefront of many emerging areas of modern chemical research.
Recent applications of quantum behavior include band-gap engineering, quantum
dots, quantum wells, teleportation, and quantum computing. Single-molecule spec-
troscopy has led to a deeper understanding of chemical kinetics, and heterogeneous
catalysis has benefited greatly from mechanistic studies carried out using the
techniques of modern surface science. Atomic scale electrochemistry has become
possible through scanning tunneling microscopy. The role of physical chemistry in
these and other emerging areas is highlighted throughout the text. The following
figure shows direct imaging of the arrangement of the atoms in pentacene as well as
imaging of a delocalized molecular orbital using scanning tunneling and atomic
force miscroscopies.

• Web-based simulations illustrate the concepts being explored and avoid math
overload. Mathematics is central to physical chemistry; however, the mathemat-
ics can distract the student from “seeing” the underlying concepts. To circumvent
this problem, web-based simulations have been incorporated as end-of-chapter
problems throughout the book so that the student can focus on the science and avoid
a math overload. These web-based simulations can also be used by instructors dur-
ing lecture. An important feature of the simulations is that each problem has been
designed as an assignable exercise with a printable answer sheet that the student can
®
submit to the instructor. The Study Area in MasteringChemistry also includes a
graphing routine with a curve-fitting capability, which allows students to print and
submit graphical data. The 50 web-based simulations listed in the end-of-chapter