Why Chemical Reactions Happen

I am impressed by this ambitious book and its accomplishments. Probing why and how chemical reactions occur is a challenge the authors meet with enthusiasm and aplomb. I found the text very informative, presenting many attention-grabbing approaches to the development of topics. Journal of Chemical Education, February 2004.‘The novel structure of the book, offering in just 200 pages many stimulating insights into a lot of (sometimes difficult) material usually taught in a different way, makes it an attractive purchase’. Chemistry World, p74. October 2004.The book does not have exhaustive coverage or detailed mathematical treatment of many of the topics taught at university. Instead, the text introduces and develops a wide variety of concepts as they are required to explain observations. The result is a thoroughly readable and enlightening book that draws together ideas in such a way as to answer the very questions that students will ask…..I recommend this book to schools for their more searching pupils, andto all students embarking on university chemistry courses.’ Education in Chemistry, March 2004.“A good A-level student or first-year undergraduate should find the book enjoyable to read and benefit from it”. The Biochemist, April 2004.

James Keeler studied Chemistry at Oxford graduating in 1981. He continued at Oxford working under Professor Ray Freeman, FRS, on new techniques in high resolution NMR spectropscopy; he was awarded the D.Phil in 1984. Later that year he moved to the Department of Chemistry in Cambridge appointed first as a University Demonstrator, then subsequently as a University Lecturer and Senior Lecturer. His research interests continue in NMR and he has published around 60papers in this area. In 1994 James was appointed as Director of Teaching in the Department. He is a Fellow of Selwyn College and there has been very involved in the teaching of Chemistry and the Natural Sciences, as well as other aspects of the academic and administrative life of the College. In 1989 he was awarded the Meldola Medal by the Royal Society of Chemistry and in 1998 he received a Pilkington Teaching Prize from the University of Cambridge.

Peter Wothers studied Chemistry at Cambridge, graduating in 1991 before undertaking a PhD under Professor A.J.Kirby on stereoelectronic effects and conformational analysis in organic chemistry. In 1996 he was appointed to the newly established post of ‘Teaching Fellow’ in the Department of Chemistry. He lectures to the undergraduatesand also runs the physical chemistry practical courses. He is involved in teaching chemistry to all age groups from giving demonstration lectures to the general public and school children to runningcourses for teachers designed to update their subject knowledge. In 2002 he was awarded a Pilkington Teaching Prize from the University. During his time at Cambridge, Peter has remained at St Catharine’s College where, amongst other things, he is the Director of Studies in Chemistry.