Lehrbuch der chemischen Physik Zugleich dritte Auflage des “Grundrisses der physikalischen Chemie”

Abstract

PROF. EUCKEN'S book “Grundriss der physikalischen Chemie” has now developed into a “Lehrbuch der chemischen Physik”. The change of title follows naturally from the fact that the physical aspects of chemistry have developed so rapidly in recent years as almost to obliterate the boundary between the two subjects. Thus, on one side, thermodynamical theory has led to the replacement of concentrations by activities; on another side, quantum theory has made the specific heats of solids a matter for complex physical investigation; and, finally, the application of spectroscopy to the problems of atomic and molecular structure has made it necessary to include a treatise on optics in every work devoted to the study of physical chemistry. Whilst, therefore, space must still be found for the familiar concepts of mass action and the phase rule, there is an irresistible tendency for books on physical chemistry to become even more physical in character, until they become in fact books on chemical physics instead of physical chemistry.