Cohesion A Scientific History of Intermolecular Forces [Paperback]

This book provides a scientific history of research into intermolecular forces.Why does matter stick together? Why do gases condense to liquids, and liquids to solids? This book provides a detailed historical account of how some of the leading scientists of the past three centuries have tried to answer these questions. It will be of primary interest to physical chemists and physicists, as well as historians of science interested in the historical origins of our modern day understanding of cohesion.Why does matter stick together? Why do gases condense to liquids, and liquids to solids? This book provides a detailed historical account of how some of the leading scientists of the past three centuries have tried to answer these questions. It will be of primary interest to physical chemists and physicists, as well as historians of science interested in the historical origins of our modern day understanding of cohesion.Why does matter stick together? Why do gases condense to liquids, and liquids to solids? This book is a detailed historical account of how some of the leading scientists of the past three centuries have tried to answer these questions. Organized into four broad periods of advances in understanding, the first three are associated with Newton, Laplace and van der Waals, while the fourth gives an account of the successful use in the twentieth century of quantum and statistical mechanics to resolve most of the remaining problems.Preface; 1. Introduction and summary; 2. Newton; 3. Laplace; 4. Van der Waals; 5. Resolution; Indexes. Rowlinson has crowned a distinguished research career by writing a detailed technical history of the field in which he has made so many important contributions...I cannot praise this book enough. William B. Jensen, University of Cincinnati An intricate and intriguing saga...The book admirably fulfills its stated aim of serving historians of science and also physicists or physical chemists curious about the roots of modern approacheló›