Quantum Mechanics for Chemists - (Tutorial Chemistry Texts) by David O Hayward (Paperback)

About the Book

This book is designed to provide chemistry undergraduates with a basic understanding of the principles of quantum mechanics.

Book Synopsis

This book is designed to provide chemistry undergraduates with a basic understanding of the principles of quantum mechanics.

From the Back Cover

Quantum Mechanics for Chemists is designed to provide chemistry undergraduates with a basic understanding of the principles of quantum mechanics. The text assumes some knowledge of chemical bonding and a familiarity with the qualitative aspects of molecular orbitals in molecules such as butadiene and benzene. Thus it is intended to follow a basic course in organic and/or inorganic chemistry. The approach is rather different from that adopted in most books on quantum chemistry in that the Schr÷dinger wave equation is introduced at a fairly late stage, after students have become familiar with the application of de Broglie-type wavefunctions to free particles and particles in a box. Likewise, the Hamiltonian operator and the concept of eigenfunctions and eigenvalues are not introduced until the last two chapters of the book, where approximate solutions to the wave equation for many-electron atoms and molecules are discussed. In this way, students receive a gradual introduction to the basic concepts of quantum mechanics. Ideal for the needs of undergraduate chemistry students, Tutorial Chemistry Texts is a major series consisting of short, single topic or modular texts concentrating on the fundamental areas of chemistry taught in undergraduate science courses. Each book provides a concise account of the basic principles underlying a given subject, embodying an independent-learning philosophy and including worked examples.

Review Quotes

"... an excellent text and is strongly recommended."

"Still wanting to understand quantum mechanics, I searched through several introductory texts on quantum mechanics listed on Amazon's site and finally settled on Quantum Mechanics For Chemists. What a great text for a beginner! If you are familiar with single variable calculus and know what a differential equation is, you can grasp the basics of quantum mechanics by working through this book. Professor Hayward has written a lucid text in clear, expository prose while keeping the mathematics at a comprehensible level."

"In conclusion, if you are looking for a brief, well done introduction to Quantum Mechanics then get your hands on a copy of Hayward's book. The material is clearly covered, the illustrations are excellent, and the problems are workable. And the price is right!!! "

"... an excellent text and is strongly recommended."

-- "Chemistry in Australia, p 33"

"Still wanting to understand quantum mechanics, I searched through several introductory texts on quantum mechanics listed on Amazon's site and finally settled on Quantum Mechanics For Chemists. What a great text for a beginner! If you are familiar with single variable calculus and know what a differential equation is, you can grasp the basics of quantum mechanics by working through this book. Professor Hayward has written a lucid text in clear, expository prose while keeping the mathematics at a comprehensible level."

"In conclusion, if you are looking for a brief, well done introduction to Quantum Mechanics then get your hands on a copy of Hayward's book. The material is clearly covered, the illustrations are excellent, and the problems are workable. And the price is right!!! "

-- "Published on Amazon.com"

I will be recommending it to my students if they are looking for a refresher on some of the key concepts in quantum mechanics. Previous student evaluations of my courses have asked for something along these lines, so I'm happy to have found something suitable.

Overall I thought the book took a very good route through a complicated subject, and I appreciated how it always focused on a chemical relevance, rather than bogging down in abstract quantum mechanics.