High-level approach to maths for chemistry
Paul Yates reviews this fast-paced text
Mathematics for physical chemistry: opening doors
Donald A. McQuarrie
Sausalito: University Science Books 2008 | Pp348 | £25.99 | ISBN 978 1 89 138956 6
Reviewed by Paul Yates
Books on mathematics which are aimed at chemists vary enormously in their level and scope, usually representing the context in which the author has worked. This volume leaves the reader in no doubt that it is aiming high; one is met with tables of trigonometric identities, power series and definite integrals on the inside cover, and on page one we are told that the first two chapters will review the essential features of a calculus course. The pace from here is correspondingly rapid, with transcendental functions discussed on page two, the sinh and cosh functions defined on page four, and the derivative defined as a limit on page seven. This book would not, therefore, be suitable for the type of introductory course which aims to bring first-year undergraduates with GCSE mathematics grade C up to A-level standard.
Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor.
Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access
Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.
Get all this, plus much more:
- unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
- teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
- applications for funding to support your lessons
Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.
Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.