Reddit reviews Applied Mathematics for Physical Chemistry (3rd Edition)

My p-chem professor recommended a book called Applied Mathematics to help with the math in the course. I haven't needed to use it just yet but I skimmed through it and it looks like a huge help. Maybe try that?

Edit: spelling

Along with Engel/Reid the course I took required Applied Mathematics for Physical Chemistry which you can find used for pretty cheap. It gives you a basic rundown of mathematical concepts with examples relating to phys chem. Of course, if your school does pchem in the same sequence as mine (2 semesters intro pchem, quantum, and then spectroscopy), you'll only need multivariable calculus (cal 3) for the first 2 semesters. Differential equations is needed (and should be taken before) quantum.

I highly recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0131008455/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It really saved me when I took physical chemistry after only having taken Calc 1.

I have a book called "Applied Mathematics in Physical Chemistry" by James R. Barrante. It is a comprehensive review and most of its examples are motivated by chemical problems. However, don't use it to teach yourself calculus -- use it to brush up on the calculus in context.

It also teaches matrices, vectors, etc. (Again, in context, but it should not be used for the first time you meet the topic.)

That is great that you love to read, one of the greatest gifts my tbm parents ever gave me. If you want something that will help give a better perspective on ST I would recommend The Problem with Physics by Lee Smolin. He worked in ST and has since moved onto other areas (he's also very nice if you ever get the chance to meet him), but this book is written such than a lay person can read and mostly understand what he talks about.

To get to ST at the level you can do something meaningful with it you'll need a solid calculus, partial differential equations, linear algebra, abstract algebra (mostly the ideas of groups, double groups, and certain Lie algebras), and topology background (you can usually find books on these topics that are geared toward physicists as not everything mathematicians care about is needed for the physics side). For the physics you should have, though it's not absolutely needed just useful for certain ideas, classical mechanics and electromagnetism. You'll need the basic QM, there's a good Intro to QM by David Griffiths, but you'll need calculus down to tackle this. You'll also need special and general relativity. Essentially a physics degree with a large emphasis in mathematics. Probably not what you wanted to hear.

If you're interested in this area, I would highly recommend not focusing on ST (others may say differently) but rather on QM in general. There are many facets of it at that are fascinating and a lot we still don't know. Not only that, but finding ever better ways to solve the fundamental equations is where a lot of work is also being done which is non-trivial and I find quite interesting as well.

Another area in this field (no pun intended) where more work needs to be done is scientific writing about these topics for a more general audience. This requires knowledge about the topics but also an ability to communicate them to those that may not have the same background (something scientists are not always that great at doing). I'm not sure if that would be of interest to you, though. I also have interests, myself, in the more recent history of QM and the various developments in the field, as this is not as well documented (I'm talking about the more obscure side paths that most people don't usually hear about even though they can have tremendous impacts later down the road).

Applied Mathematics for Physical Chemistry by James R. Barrante, has pretty much everything you're asking for.

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