Mathematics for Physical Chemistry

A wonderful quotation advises students to listen carefully the moment they decide to take no more mathematics courses, as they might be able to “hear the sound of closing doors”.

This text, written by best-selling author Donald McQuarrie, is meant to keep doors open to undergraduate and even graduate chemistry students who need a quick review of the mathematical methods that are used throughout chemistry. It is the outgrowth of a collection of “MathChapters” from McQuarrie’s famous texts, Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach and Quantum Chemistry Second Edition. These “MathChapters”, now available to all, provide students with concise reviews of mathematical topics, discussing only the minimal amount that students need to know. By reading these reviews before the mathematics is applied to physical chemical problems, a student will be able to spend less time worrying about the math and more time learning the physical chemistry. This book can also be used as a supplement with any traditional textbook on physical or quantum chemistry.

KEY FEATURES

• Focuses on clear, mathematical descriptions, written by a chemist for chemists.
• Includes 23 short chapters, with each one designed to be read in a single sitting.
• Presents mathematical material at a practical level with an emphasis on applications to physical problems.
• Contains examples to illustrate the techniques being discussed.
• Features over 600 problems, most of which have answers at the end of the book.