Essential Mathematics for Physical Chemists by Leanne Chen

Essential Mathematics for Physical Chemists by Leanne Chen

Physical chemistry is an essential element of a rigorous chemistry education, and a strong background in mathematics is recommended, if not required, if one wishes to achieve mastery in this subject. Essential Mathematics for Physical Chemists prepares students for the core suite of physical chemistry courses, including thermodynamics and kinetics, quantum chemistry, and statistical mechanics.

The book is divided into five main parts. Part I introduces fundamental concepts such as coordinates, sets, and functions. Part II covers calculus, starting with the defi nition of the limit, and moving to differentiation and integration. Part III delves into mathematical analysis and its applications in physical chemistry. Part IV focuses on linear algebra, including operators, vectors, and matrices. The central theme of Part V is probability, with in-depth discussions on combinatorics and expectation values.

This comprehensive perspective empowers students to excel in their academic pursuits.

Dr. Leanne Chen is an exceptional interdisciplinary scientist whose research program focuses on using renewably-generated electricity to drive chemical processes for energy storage and conversion. She currently leads a creative group of seven trainees with a common goal of using quantum chemistry methods to gain fundamental insight and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for energy applications. Specifically, her group has been breaking new ground for the electrochemical ammonia oxidation and urea oxidation reactions, two emerging electrocatalytic processes important for hydrogen storage and waste remediation. Her contributions to the field of computational electrocatalysis are evidenced by a series of publications in high-impact venues including The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, ACS Catalysis, and Nature Communications, with a total of 36 publications, 2539 citations, and an h-index of 19. Dr. Chen has given 38 invited presentations at universities, conferences, national laboratories, and private-sector companies. She was awarded a prestigious NFRF – Exploration grant in 2021 and led an international team to develop disruptive electrolyzer technology. Dr. Chen’s impressive research achievements earned her a University Research Excellence Award in 2022, and she was recognized as an Outstanding Reviewer for the high-impact journal Energy and Environmental Science in 2023.