Introductory Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

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Summary: This is an INTRODUCTORY to thermodynamics text
Review: How do you write a textbook explaining everything in detail? You can't and this is why students have instructors. This book is an INTRODUCTORY text for thermodynamics. For example, you can't derive departure functions for every equation of state. There are just too many of them. The book did have many useful example problems. Still it wasn't enough. I just completed my thermodynamics course at the University of Akron and I had to develop my own comprehensive view of the ideas stated in the book. It was very useful as a tool, but don't expect to teach yourself thermodynamics from it. That's what your instructor is for. You can understand concepts by concentrating on the many useful analogies given in the book. For example, the parking lot analogy which explains radial distribution. I have some advice when going through this book. You are chemical engineer majors; the one major that can do anything. At this stage of the game, you should start thinking like an engineer thinks. For example, the guy who wanted to know why dh=0 for throttles. He should be try to figure out that on his own. That is what engineers are supposed to do. Instructors explain this in class, as well. I agree that Chapter 4 was very vague, but again, this is an introductory course. We have two more years of learning. In conclusion, don't expect to learn everything about thermodynamics from this book. You won't. But do expect to learn the basic principles about thermodynamics. That is the strong point of this book.

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Summary: Introductory? Says who?
Review: I bought this book a few weeks ago thinking that it will give me a good base to begin my first thermo course next year. I was so lost and confused by the book that I immediately sought help, and my tutor told me that I had completely wasted my money. If you are someone who has never done thermo before, like myself, save your money for something more useful: there is nothing introductory about this text. Try checking out Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach by Boles (a MUCH better introductory text-book).

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Summary: Makes you work!
Review: I think the text was pretty good; it made you consult references frequently, and that is a necessary skill to have as an engineer. As an engineer you have to know how to pick up theory and put it to use quickly. The problems were rough and time consuming, but that's because no problems in engineering are easy! When completed, though, you are satisfied. To the last guy: "physics" is the one major that can do anything! Everything in science is either physics or bug collecting, whether you like it or not :) But, engineering is more marketable.