By
J. Ott, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, U.S.A.
Juliana Boerio-Goates, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, U.S.A.
Description
This book is an excellent companion to
Chemical Thermodynamics: Principles and Applications. Together they make a complete
reference set for the practicing scientist. This volume extends the range of topics and applications to ones that are not usually covered
in a beginning thermodynamics text. In a sense, the book covers a "middle ground" between the basic principles developed in a beginning
thermodynamics textbook, and the very specialized applications that are a part of an ongoing research project. As such, it could prove
invaluable to the practicing scientist who needs to apply thermodynamic relationships to aid in the understanding of the chemical process
under consideration.
The writing style in this volume remains informal, but more technical than in
Principles and Applications.
It starts with Chapter 11, which
summarizes the thermodynamic relationships developed in this earlier volume. For those who want or
need more detail, references are given to
the sections in
Principles and Applications where one could go to learn more
about the development, limitations, and conditions where these equations apply. This is the only place where
Advanced Applications
ties back to the previous volume. Chapter 11 can serve as a review of the fundamental thermodynamic equations that are necessary for
the more sophisticated applications described in the remainder of this book. This may be all that is necessary for the practicing scientist
who has been away from the field for some time and needs some review. The remainder of this book applies thermodynamics to the description
of a variety of problems. The topics covered are those that are probably of the most fundamental and broadest interest. Throughout the
book, examples of "real" systems are used as much as possible. This is in contrast to many books where "generic" examples are used almost
exclusively. A complete set of references to all sources of data and to supplementary reading sources is included. Problems are given
at the end of each chapter. This makes the book ideally suited for use as a textbook in an advanced topics course in chemical thermodynamics.
Audience:
Graduate students in thermodynamics (physics, chemistry and engineering) and professionals in disciplines where thermodynamics is of key
relevance such as chemistry, physics, materials science, geology, and biochemistry.
