Atomic Spectra and Atomic Structure (Dover Books on Physics)

The reason I purchased "Atomic Spectra and Atomic Structure" by German-born Canadian Chemist, Gerhard Herzberg was because I am interested in learning about atomic and subatomic processes at work in Chemistry.What I found was that the early work here predating World War II is not quite as old, outdated and obscure as many would assume but very fundamental, profound, in-depth, thorough and definitely a masterpiece written by a pioneering Chemist who won the Nobel Prize a while ago, i.e., if I am indeed correct here.The books, as its title suggests, is based on Quantum Mechanics and goes into the thick and thin of Quantum Theory as it applies to Chemistry. As the focus is Chemistry, the book materials delve into Quantum concepts as it relates to the elements of matter in the Periodic Table, electronic configurations of atoms, and even touching upon the nucleus by treating some basic problems in nuclear spin, very advanced for a pre-World War II reference book.However, the book is not all about Quantum Theory and relevant details of mathematical calculations (Heisenberg and Schrodinger) pertaining to various problems arising in the electronic structure of atoms such as the famous work by Linus Pauling around the same period of time. It is more oriented toward chemical processes involved in electron spin and physics of the electrons of chemical elements, taking into account of spectroscopic issues arising in Chemistry.In an implicit manner, Herzberg assumes that the reader has a reasonably strong background in Quantum Mechanics and is comfortable solving problems involving Quantum Theory as it applies to atoms and various chemical processes (reactions between Na and Cl, etc.).All in all, this is a work reflecting some profound and advanced concepts of Chemical Physics that date to the years before World War II and are still applicable and highly relevant today in the world of Chemistry and related Atomic Physics, encompassing models of electron dynamics and their effects on chemical reactions and composition of matter in general.Since I am not a practicing Chemist, I can add no more but ask each reader to decide for himself or herself how such a book can add to one's knowledge of atomic (and even subatomic) processes in Chemistry in this day and age.

Classic but good this book has theoretical and experimental information to understant about atomic structure and spetra.

Every atomist and spectroscopiest need to read.

This book outlines the evolution of atomic spectroscopy beginning from the old quantum theory, i.e. Bohr's theory, and goes insofar as Schrodinger's wave equation enables us. The book is obviously outdated since nowadays we use laser techniques (who still refers to arc spectra?) and the figures are both difficult to discern and poorly realized compared to today's standards. Herzberg builds the foundations the way it was done historically, although he will often skip ahead and use a concept ahead of the text, leaving its usage and finer details to be explained later on. This is a classic but not an easy read overall, so if you want an introduction to spectroscopy that is consistent with today's teachings and offer a more complete view of everything discovered since the 1940's, I would suggest any textbooks on atomic spectroscopy since 1996 at the very least.

Atomic Spectra and Atomic Structure is a very good option in this research field, once it presentes a relatively deep information related to concepts that are necessary to understand some spectometric phenomena..

It came one day early. Very well packaged. It is for my daughters 17 year old birthday which is in july 10. She likes science. Maybe she will like this.

The book is an amazing by students of matter structure. Gerhard Herzberg is a great physicyst wich win a nobel by your study in elecctronic structure. It's a very powerfull text for understanding the atomic structure.

Classic book on Atomic physics from Dover publication.

Everything was fine.