March 28, 2024, 05:22:50 PM
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Topic: Differences between McQuarrie P-Chem and Q-Chem textbooks  (Read 1444 times)

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Offline penta-d

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Differences between McQuarrie P-Chem and Q-Chem textbooks
« on: April 28, 2020, 04:43:51 PM »
As an undergraduate (20+ years ago) I used Atkins' Physical Chemistry textbook, but the quantum topics never really sank in very well for me. I'm planning to read through McQuarrie to see if the quantum stuff makes more sense to me now, but I've noticed that he has Physical Chemistry - A Molecular Approach, and Quantum Chemistry textbooks. I am wondering if these are essentially the same for the quantum topics, or is the latter book more advanced or something?

Offline Corribus

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Re: Differences between McQuarrie P-Chem and Q-Chem textbooks
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2020, 12:24:02 PM »
As I recall, McQuarrie's Quantum Chemistry was the original textbook, before it was (vastly) expanded into Physical Chemistry - A Molecular Approach. There's nothing in Quantum Chemistry that isn't covered in much the same way in Physical Chemistry - A Molecular Approach.
What men are poets who can speak of Jupiter if he were like a man, but if he is an immense spinning sphere of methane and ammonia must be silent?  - Richard P. Feynman

Offline penta-d

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Re: Differences between McQuarrie P-Chem and Q-Chem textbooks
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2020, 05:07:27 PM »
Many thanks for the information Corribus! Much appreciated!

Offline pm133

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Re: Differences between McQuarrie P-Chem and Q-Chem textbooks
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2020, 07:07:38 PM »
McQuarrie's Physical Chem is a huge book but you can buy it in smaller books.
Quantum Chemistry is one, Molecular Thermo is another. I have these two.

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