Principles of Physical Chemistry

Rating:
Summary: Ok, there are better texts
Review: I used this textbook in my undergraduate Physical Chemistry course. While Raff had good intentions of showing students all of the necessary derivations, I feel he used some cumbersome methods to get there. Granted, my professor used different means to derive the same equations, but I have to agree with my professor, Raff's terminology goes against the mainstream jargon of most physical chemists.This text is probably suitable for PChem students who have had both vector calculus and some differential equation experience since Raff assumes quite frequently that you know he's skipping ahead 3-6 steps to get the next line of equations. While the "hell questions" are humorous (see Ch. 1-4), a large portion of the questions were not worded in a clear cut manner. I usually had to have my professor "translate" what Raff was asking for in his questions so I could go about determining an answer. I'm thankful that at least where I am at for graduate school, they use the 7th Ed. of P.W. Atkins Physical Chemistry text since it's much better. Atkins has always excelled with his PChem textbooks, and if I had a choice, I'd use Atkins over Raff anyday to teach Physical Chemistry.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Textbook
Review: If you ever wanted a textbook that explained Physical Chemistry and made the concepts much more accessible this is the BOOK!!! Let me repeat myself this is the BOOK!!! This book explains Physical Chemistry better than any other text than I've ever encountered with the possible exception of the textbook by David W. Ball simply titled Physical Chemistry. Buy this book!!! I repeat BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

Rating:
Summary: doesnt help much
Review: This book truely does not help much. The problems at the end of the chapters do not have any answers in the back of the book, as do all others. It is impossible to check your work until it is too late. This book does not build from simpler to more complex. It does the opposite, which only prolongs the learning process and makes it more difficult than it could be.