Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory : A Programmed Introduction to Chemical Applications, 2nd Edition

This substantially revised and expanded new edition of the bestselling textbook, addresses the difficulties that can arise with the mathematics that underpins the study of symmetry, and acknowledges that group theory can be a complex concept for students to grasp.

Written in a clear, concise manner, the author introduces a series of programmes that help students learn at their own pace and enable to them understand the subject fully. Readers are taken through a series of carefully constructed exercises, designed to simplify the mathematics and give them a full understanding of how this relates to the chemistry.

This second edition contains a new chapter on the projection operator method. This is used to calculate the form of the normal modes of vibration of a molecule and the normalised wave functions of hybrid orbitals or molecular orbitals.

The features of this book include:
* A concise, gentle introduction to symmetry and group theory
* Takes a programmed learning approach
* New material on projection operators, and the calcultaion of normal modes of vibration and normalised wave functions of orbitals
This book is suitable for all students of chemistry taking a first course in symmetry and group theory.

Customer Reviews:

Great for beginners

By Matthew A. Thompson "Man Among Men" - May 24, 2000

If you don't have the math background it often takes to penetrate Cotton, this book could be the answer. For learning the quick and dirty basics of the use of group theory for molecules, this is the book. The only problems are its sparseness and the high price for a 156 page book. Excellent for self-teaching, though.

A nice book

By Amanda - October 26, 2010

Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory is a nice guide for students to evaluate symmetry of molecules and their implications on molecular vibrations. It's structure in programmes and it's approach are so helpful.

Not the "easy" book introduction implies, requires some prior knowledge

By A. T. Ko "The Science Bookworm" - June 28, 2011

I bought this book with no prior knowledge of molecular symmetry nor the mathematics of group theory. With only the idea of stereochemistry and matrix algebra, I was hoping that this book would help pave the way for my inorganic chemistry course over the summer.

The first few pages (about 6-10 pages in) started out quite nicely, you get a comfortable feel for the author and his teaching style- almost like a parent holding your hand and guiding you gently through the basic elements of symmetry. Aside from a few vaguely conveyed ideas (improper rotation was not very clear), you start to get a hang of the idea and feel comfortable with the author and his pedagogy. BUT..... once you reach the 2nd chapter about point groups, it's as though the author left you in the middle of a busy high-way, blindfolded, with little to no explanation why such a point group contains such elements, etc. and how, or even why he grouped it such a way! All the new concepts in chapter 2 were just... read more

AVAILABILITY
Merchant	Format	Price
Amazon US	Paperback	$18.78 - $45.00
eBooks.com	Digital (PDF)	$45.00
BookByte	Paperback	$74.74
eCampus	Paperback	~~$46.80~~ discount!