Principles of General Chemistry (3rd Edition)

Author: Hu Tongwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: This book is a textbook for the fundamental course of General Chemistry Principles at the College of Chemistry, Peking University, and is accompanied by "Solutions Manual for General Chemistry Principles." The second edition of this book won the First Prize in the National Excellent Textbook Competition for Higher Education organized by the State Education Commission in 1995. The third edition is a national planning textbook for general higher education under the "Tenth Five-Year Plan." The book consists of 16 chapters, mainly covering fundamental principles of chemistry such as the state and structure of matter, chemical thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, reaction rates, and the periodic law. The second edition of the book was awarded the First Prize in the National Excellent Textbook Competition for Higher Education by the State Education Commission in 1995 and has been reprinted 10 times to date. In 2002, it was selected as a national planning textbook for general higher education under the "Tenth Five-Year Plan." Adhering to the principle of inheritance and renewal: (1) Deep yet Accessible—Fundamental principles such as chemical thermodynamics and the structure of matter are core content for the course but involve extensive knowledge of physics and mathematics. How to present them in an accessible yet rigorous manner has been a focus of the authors' research. (2) Bridging the Gap—While focusing on secondary-level foundations, the book also ensures continuity with subsequent courses. Some content is printed in small print or footnotes to balance systematic narration and varying levels of difficulty, allowing readers to realize "learning leads to awareness of one's limitations." (3) Emphasis on Experiments and Historical Context—The book introduces necessary experimental phenomena and data, and some concepts are presented with reference to their historical development, enabling readers to grasp the relativity and limitations of human understanding of nature, thereby fostering scientific thinking and innovative spirit. In line with curriculum reform, the third edition has added two new chapters: "Element Chemistry" and "Chemistry and Social Development." It is hoped that readers will gain a fundamental understanding of elements from the perspective of chemical principles and recognize the role and significance of chemistry in social development, appreciating the richness and diversity of the discipline and sparking their interest in learning. This book can serve as a textbook for foundational chemistry courses in chemistry-related majors or as a reference for general chemistry courses in other disciplines.