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Title: The Elements of Physical Chemistry by P. W. Atkins ISBN: 0-7167-2364-6 Publisher: W H Freeman & Co Pub. Date: 01 September, 1992 Format: Hardcover List Price(USD): $53.95

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Average Customer Rating: 2.67 (3 reviews)

Rating: 1
Summary: Disappointing Text
Comment: As an instructor I found this text VERY DISAPPOINTING. It has many errors that persist to the 2nd edition. In addition, there are several instances in which references are made to sections that are only found in Atkin's larger P-Chem text. I attribute this to simple lack of effort on the part of the author and publisher. The errors and inconsistencies have made this text difficult to use. In addition, for students with the background to understand straight forward calculus based descriptions, it was confusing to wade through algebraic description before encoutering the proper "justification" at the end.

Rating: 2
Summary: Pick another Atkins text
Comment: While the descriptions in the book are helpful, I reccomend you pick another Atkins text. Both my class and my professor are unhappy with this selection. The book has many contradictions and innacuracies, and while the correct parts may be very good, a text book _must_ be reliable. It is important to know what is true from the errors. For this reason I used another Atkins text. "Physical Chemistry" 5th edition is accurate and helpful. (I've heard the 6th edition of "Physical Chemistry" also has errors.) "Physical Chemistry" is calculus based, so be aware that a math background is helpful (including Multivariable Calculus). The solutions manual to this book is _full_ of errors.

Rating: 5
Summary: Superb non-mathematical review of elementary concepts
Comment: Like all the books that Atkins has written entirely on his own, the "Elements of Physical Chemistry" is a work of extremely high quality. With this, I mean that Atkins has succeeded entirely in achieving what he aimed for - writing a condensed booklet that collects in one place all the physical chemistry there is in General Chemistry, with very slight additional depth. The layout does not interfere, organization of material is perfect; but then, most General Chemistry texts would of course be very much easier to read and understand if all the flow-charts, dialogue boxes, summary boxes, review boxes, review question boxes, exercise boxes, problem boxes, concept question boxes, application boxes, margin notes and hundreds of flashy pictures were removed. As a child, a man that one day would become my professor, on one occasion said to me "you simply must know every WORD of this book, for it contains the elementa of the discipline". I followed this and other advice of his, and today I enjoy the effects of his wisdom. WelI-meaningly I now say to all people taking General Chemistry - get this book and learn every WORD. I urge you. With concentration, you will have learned everything well in one week-end. (You will be the best in your class with only this minimal investment of effort, if that is perhaps your concern.) The [elementa]of Physical Chemistry is really an inadequate title, as the foundations of Physical Chemistry come from many disciplines that must be studied separately; some catch-all volume is impossible. The "Postulates of General Chemistry" would be more descriptive, but extremely unlikely... Thus, do not be grightened by the title - this is GENERAL chemistry at its best. If you know what a definite integral is, you will be perfectly alright. The only weakness is the binding (as with the last edition of the Physical Chemistry proper and its accessory manuals) but that is no different from other books. Soon, the greed of publishing houses will have wiped out the last memory of that book binding really is an art. (Those who dream of obtaining a conscientous understanding of chemistry and physics, I also urge to read this book - since it will, as said, require only three days of work and will definitely save you many, many hours of inefficiency that a loose understanding of General Chemistry would steal from your restless struggle in your first Physical Chemistry or any other post-G-chem. course! Besides, conscience is always in constant movement and no one book, or even a thousand, good or bad, can anchor it securely for you! I take this opportunity of warning against trusting oneself too securely in the gentle arms of pedagogy: you should naturally listen to your masters carefully, admire their skill and persistence and remember all their words, but the only truth is that which you wholeheartedly believe in yourself. Now, as you try this out, you might find that believing is an infinitely beautiful and human thing, but one surprisingly hard to do (that is probably why so many have left church) - and then there is hope for you! The desire to come to rest, in belief, will force you to derive every relation that you come across and think about how all hangs together, day and night, in sickness and in health, in your sleep and while you have supper - until your conscience says "enough!...for now." This fascinating process will let you taste the "real" science, follow its gradual discovery, and build the tremendous skill that you will need carrying it forth. Last, but surely not least, you will be given a chance of discovering yourself in a way that no Navy drill ever could succeed with. MUCH ENJOYMENT I WISH TO YOU!)