n this essential guide for students of chemistry, Peter Atkins' Very Short Introduction explains the principles and phenomena of physical chemistry. Using few formulas, Atkins shows how physical chemistry draws its ideas from physics, quantum mechanics, and mathematics, and how it has contributed to our understanding of the natural world. Covers all the aspects of the subject in a clear, accessible, mathematics-free style Shows how physical chemists think about their subject and borrow ideas from physics to explain the phenomena Ideal for chemistry students and the general reader looking to learn more about the subject Demonstrates the central contributions physical chemistry makes towards our understanding of chemical concepts and the natural world Part of the best-selling Very Short Introductions series, with over six million copies sold worldwide