1 comments about Statistical Mechanics: A Concise Introduction for Chemists.

1. While looking for a suitable textbook for a one-semester course on Statistical Mechanics, I found this little gem by Prof. Widom, a recognized authority in the field. It was a pleasure to read, clear, all the classical topics well explained, very understandable.
   Several excellent textbook on the subject are available, but none conveys so much in so little space (THE SPACE you have available in an undergraduate lecture course), yet with no compromise on rigour or clarity. At the beginning, I was a little uneasy by the choice of skipping a discussion of the (difficult) foundations, jumping directly to the Boltzmann distribution as a starting point. Now I totally agree with it, it is the best for a first introduction, and if time is left (rarely) one can profitably add a discussion on fundations at the end of the course.

1 comments about Handbook of Materials Modeling.

1. The book contains extensive chapters on tight binding methods, density functional theory, atomistic modeling of materials using molecular dynamical methods, monte-carlo methods, rate equations and continuum methods, and covers processes from thin film growth to radiation damage in solids, defects in crystals to soft condensed matter. Towards the end the plenary chapters give a nice overview of the problems in the field of simulation. The chapters are lucidly written by the foremost researchers in the fields.
   
   My only gripe is that it ignores the field of device simulations, which would have been a nice addition in an encyclopedic book like this.
   
   A must have for any person trying to learn simulation techniques. Definitely five star material.

3 comments about The Colloidal Domain: Where Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Technology Meet (Advances in Interfacial Engineering).

1. Note: writing below review based on my perusing the first edition, which is not significantly different than the second, except for the aforementioned added chapter, IMO.

   Particularly liked the "Concept Map" at the beginning of each chapter - this tells me what I can find in each chapter and gives me a good overview of where to find what (more than any Table of Contents can).

   Could have done with a chapter on various analytical and experimental tools used to study colloids. This is done briefly in the chapter on bilayers but the spectrum of available tools in studying colloids, micelles, and other structures in this domain would serve the reader well and complete the book, so to speak. In any case, this is one of the books I'd like to buy soon.




2. this is a great text for the undergraduate and graduate student as well as researcher in the colloids, polymers, and surface science field. It has the math that gives you the insight to apply to industrial or lab experiments and provides as a good reference for the experienced scientist/engineer. Excellent buy and worth every dollar.



3. The Colloidal Domain by Evans and Wennerstrom is a comprehensive guided tour into the realm of colloidal behavior. Every chapter opens with a summary of key concepts (concept map) that one must commit oneself to learn through the development, through theory and examples, presented in that chapter. The authors have chosen to title every sub-section with a sentence or a phrase that summarizes the ideas developed and demonstrated there. The text is written in a style that makes it an excellent textbook for use in both undergraduate and graduate classes.
   
   The typical examples come from the field of surfactants, from the behavior of bilayers and micelles. Hence the text first describes the self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules, introducing key thermodynamic principles that guide it, including the role of surfaces and surface tension; and the kinetic processes that control it. These concepts come handy later when the behavior of micelles, bilayers and emulsions in general is discussed. I really enjoyed the chapter on forces relevant to the colloidal domain, which presents the essential expressions and concepts in a very useful and concise fashion. The development on forces in colloids paves way for equally illustrative discussion of the phase behavior and the kinetic and thermodynamic factors that contribute to the stability of colloids. In this context, Gouy-Chapman theory, Debye-Huckel theory and DLVO theory, are presented, and role of dissolved ions and polymers is demonstrated in a very insightful fashion.
   
   I recommend the text on Colloidal Dispersions by Russel, Saville and Schowalter to readers interested in learning more about colloidal dispersions based on particulate matter, and the text by Morrison & Ross for them who have more interest in foams. Most soft matter texts (say by Hamley, or R. A. L. Jones or Ron Larson) include discussion on colloidal dispersions, and one may wish to consult them to see how the knowledge of colloidal behavior provides good starting point for learning about polymers, gels and liquid crystals.
   
   I highly recommend this textbook for beginners, teachers, students and researchers. I hope more and more texts will follow this text in its lucid and comprehensive presentation of fundamental concepts.

No comments about Instrumental Methods in Electrochemistry.

No comments about Principles of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (RSC Paperbacks).

No comments about Chemical Sensors and Biosensors (Analytical Techniques in the Sciences (AnTs) *).

No comments about Elements of Chemical Thermodynamics: Second Edition.

No comments about Polymorphism in Molecular Crystals (International Union of Crystallography).

2 comments about Physical Properties of Polymers Handbook.

1. This is 'the' data compilation of physical properties of polymers. This is the only book that contained the parameters that I was looking for.



2. Thanks for having this hard to find product in stock!

No comments about Multiple Emulsion: Technology and Applications (Wiley Series on Surface and Interfacial Chemistry).