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(More customer reviews)Chemical kinetics and reaction dynamics are not easy subjects, demanding quite a lot of physics in some complicated settings. Thus, it is all the more impressive that Paul Houston has managed to write this extraordinarily clear and concise text that is accessible to an advanced undergraduate.
Do not get me wrong; the prerequisites for this book are extensive. A good grasp of basic newtonian mechanics, quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, and statistical thermodynamics are musts. But nothing is needed beyond what can be expected from a good, stiff one-year course in physical chemistry.
From the first chapter on the kinetic theory of gases, Houston's focus on the physics - on keeping derivations short and clear, on connecting formulae with sound physical intuition - is striking. It does not lag as the book goes on. Houston continues with a clean exposition of empirical chemical kinetics and how to integrate and/or simplify the resulting differential equations. The grungy business of theoretical kinetics - how to kludge your way to a theoretical gas-phase reaction rate constant - is well treated after that. In the third chapter, Houston delivers an elegant and unified flux-driven treatment of transport phenomena. He gets the basic equations correct up to a numerical factor with a minimum of effort. This is beautiful; I wish chemical engineers would read this before beginning their own transport travails! There are then several chapters on the chemistry of more complicated systems, like solution-phase, solid surface-phase, and photochemical reactions. While I haven't read these, I am sure they are wonderful. The high point, in my opinion, is the final chapter on reaction dynamics. Its ongoing tacit motivation is the question, "How does a hydrogen fluoride laser work?" Read, and you will learn. In doing so, you will also become acquainted with the basic concepts in gas-phase reaction dynamics: the details of the crossed-beam molecular scattering experiment, the concept of a potential energy surface, and what these can tell us about reaction mechanisms. Throughout Houston, the emphasis on looking up from the math and seeing the physical big picture prevents the blind and frustrating equation-crunching which is all too common in the quantitative sciences.
This little book is really amazing. It takes you from a good undergraduate background to the forefront of modern chemical physics research with minimal pain and maximal excitement. Read it.
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"Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Dynamics" is a modern textbook for advanced courses. Houston emphasizes the essential principles of kinetics and dynamics through relevant examples and current research, providing students with a clear, basic understanding.
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