RSC Books Blog

The new edition of Maths for Chemists, combines Volumes I and II of the hugely successful Tutorial Chemistry Texts, to provide an excellent resource for all undergraduate chemistry students particularly focussing on the needs of students who may not have studied mathematics beyond GCSE level (or equivalent). The text is introductory in nature and adopts a sympathetic approach for students who need support and understanding in working with the diverse mathematical tools required in a typical chemistry degree course.  It provides a concise account of the basic principles underlying a given subject, embodying an independent-learning philosophy and including worked examples.

The topics covered include: power series, which are used to formulate alternative representations of functions and are important in model building in chemistry; complex numbers and complex functions, which appear in quantum chemistry, spectroscopy and crystallography; matrices and determinants used in the solution of sets of simultaneous linear equations and in the representation of geometrical transformations used to describe molecular symmetry characteristics; and vectors which allow the description of directional properties of molecules. New material includes a new chapter on Statistics and Error Analysis.

Let us help you succeed.  See http://www.rsc.org/Shop/books/2012/9781849733595.asp for more details.

Recently in the news it was reported that Dyson are sponsoring a professorship at Cambridge in Engineering on Fluid Mechanics.  The RSC published Applied Thermodynamics in Fluids in conjunction with IUPAC on just this subject to address the needs of practitioners in the field and provide a book with greater emphasis on the application of the theory. 

Read more about the book at http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/ebook/978-1-84755-806-0

You are guaranteed to learn something new.

Recognising the contribution and putting the record straight.

One of the most important parts of British heavy industry today is our railway system.

Railway historians, enthusiasts and, may be, chemists themselves will be surprised to learn that chemistry  played an important part in the development of the railway industry in Britain.

From the analysis of water used in steam engines to improve boiler efficiency to the important differences between cast iron, steel and wrought iron impacting on the production of the rails.

 Written by Colin A Russell and John A Hudson, this is the first detailed study of this important interaction and covers the crucial role that chemistry played in the development of the railway industry.

 You are guaranteed to learn something new.

 For more information see the website at http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2011/9781849733267.asp

This book is a practical, easy to use guide for readers with limited experience of molecular modelling. It will provide students at the undergraduate and early postgraduate chemistry level with a similar entry to modelling. The needs of independent readers are catered for by the inclusion of instructions for acquiring and setting up a suitable computer. To further the aims of the book, compact discs are included that provide a comprehensive suite of modelling software and datasets.  For further information see http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2011/9781849733526.asp

Metal phosphonate chemistry is a highly interdisciplinary field that has acquired additional significance due to the increased interest in “Metal-Organic Frameworks”. This book aims to fill a gap in the literature by summarising in a concise way the latest developments  and their related applications in the field.  It uniquely provides a systematic and organised view of the subject – edited by two experts, Abraham Clearfield and Konstantisnos Demadis, and includes contributions from many experienced researchers. With an extensive bibliography, it is a great reference for academic and industrial researchers as well as students working in the field and will act as a starting point for further exploration of the literature.  For further information see http://www.rsc.org/Shop/books/2011/9781849733564.asp

This book provides the latest information on polysaccharide gum research, particularly gum Arabic, as presented at the World conference on “New developments in Acacia Gums Research and Products”.  Coverage includes production, identification, classification and application of these important carbohydrate polymers.   Edited by John F Kennedy, Glyn O Philips and Peter A Williams and written by the world’s leading experts in the field, it will be an essential reference for researchers in industry and academia interested in the continued advances in this area.  For further information see http://www.rsc.org/Shop/books/2011/9781849731935.asp

Written by Piero Zanello and Fabrizi de Biani both from University of Siena and Carlo Nervi, University of Torino, this second edition of a classic book has been fully revised and updated and is a straightforward, logical introduction to electrochemical investigations for inorganic chemists. Covering every feature of inorganic electrochemistry – the introduction is followed by chapters on the basic characteristics of electrochemistry followed by practical and applicative aspects and ends with full appendices.  It is probably the only publication with a simple approach to electrochemical aspects of the topics in inorganic chemistry. 

Bridging the gap between undergraduate and research-level electrochemistry books, this book will be a welcome addition to the literature of inorganic chemists. It will also be particularly useful to final year students in chemistry and as background reading for graduates and researchers without adequate electrochemical knowledge to become active in the discipline or who want to collaborate with electrochemists.  For more information see http://www.rsc.org/Shop/books/2011/9781849730716.asp

An estimated 50% of the food produced worldwide is wasted. If the entire world had the same voracious appetite as Europeans, it would take three planets to produce the amount demanded. In Britain, 18 million tonnes (14 billion pounds worth) of perfectly edible household food is thrown away every year. Apart from the waste, overeating is becoming a serious public health issue in many countries. According to a U.S. study, Western countries are consuming an average daily surplus of 1400 calories per person.

Written by Andrea Segre and Silvia Gaiani, University of Bologna, this easy to read book on overproduction and overconsumption in contemporary society highlights some alarming global data. It discusses the origins and causes of food waste and its correlation with climate change, agriculture, population growth, and the need for a more ethical, ecological society. The complexity of the waste dynamic processes imposes a dire need to reconsider economic relationships and social values in the light of sustainability and eco-efficiency.

After a Foreword by Vandana Shiva , the first two chapters describe the current imbalanced global food market. The book then goes on to present projects from around the world that are aimed at finding practical and efficient solutions to food waste. Particular emphasis is placed on Last Minute Market. This initiative links shops and producers with unsold food to people, and charities, in need. Originated at the University of Bologna Faculty of Agriculture, the project offers economic, environmental and social benefits. Alongside other European initiatives, it has contributed to a greener economy and a more sustainable world. Based on the data, and on the initiatives presented, the conclusion is devoted to the idea of a “new intelligent ecology”.

Discover more at http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2011/9781849732536.asp

Published under the auspies of both the IUPAC and IACT, this book contains the very latest information on all aspects of heat capacities related to liquids and vapours, either pure or mixed.  Edited by Emmerich Wilhelm and Trevor Letcher, the Journal of the American Chemical Society wrote “This book features 22 chapters from an international team of acknowledged experts from a variety of disciplines who describe the current state of the art in heat capacities related to liquids, solutions and vapours.” Heat Capacities will be a key point of reference for graduates, researchers and undergraduates looking for a critical evaluation of this subject.  For more information see http://www.rsc.org/Shop/books/2010/9780854041763.asp

Written by a respected science historian and established author, William Brock, this collection of essays touches on all aspects of chemistry. It contains 43 tales about chemists and their discoveries from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The title is taken from the lead chapter which describes how respected chemist, William Crookes, solved a mystery from the 1860s of how brilliantly coloured socks were causing the feet of unfortunate wearers to swell. Other topics covered include: the quirky beliefs of American philanthropist, James Dewar; the development of the chemical laboratory since the 1830s, and the career of C.P. Snow before he became a novelist. Light in style, and presented as a series of unconnected vignettes, the book will interest chemists, teachers, historians and lay people with an interest in science.

See more information at http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2011/9781849733243.asp