The Problems of Chemistry

by W.G. Richards

In this stimulating work, Graham Richards provides general readers and students with an authoritative introduction to the central problems currently faced by chemistry. In clear, down-to-earth language he explains how atoms join to form molecules, and explores the major challenges
preoccupying chemists, including the synthesis of new substances such as drugs, plastics, detergents and dyes. The book also examines the spectacular advances that have been made in the chemical understanding of genetics and the mechanisms of living organisms-- a necessary prelude to genetic
engineering--and considers the various ethical and social problems spawned by the new chemistry. Richards is a widely published author of many books and articles on chemistry.

Genres: Science

104 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 1986

About the author

Professor Graham Richards, Emeritus fellow of Brasenose College, is listed in the top 100 most important contemporary figures in British science by The Times Newspaper's Eureka magazine. As well as coming to Brasenose as an undergraduate, Professor Richards was a Chemistry tutor at the College for over 30 years and chairman of the University's Chemistry Department from 1997-2006. As a young graduate student in the 1960s, he was part of the first generation of researchers using computation techniques to solve scientific problems, and he went on to become a pioneer in the field of computer-aided molecular design. He produced the first ever colour graphic images of molecular structures.

Professor Richards also founded Oxford Molecular, a company which provided software to researchers, and later helped set up Isis Innovation, Oxford's technology transfer company, which aims to help set up spin-out companies from research carried out at the University. Following these experiences, last year he published Spin Outs: Creating Business From University Intellectual Property, a book he dedicates to Margaret Thatcher, who he argues introduced reforms that paved the way for spin-out activity in Universities. In early October 2010, he was appointed as one of the two Vice-Presidents of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and in Spring 2011 was elected as a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales.
~http://www.bnc.ox.ac.uk/288/about-bra...

Reviews

[Abdo Serwy]

كتاب رائع يحتوي على ملخص شامل عن الأفكار الرئيسية التي تدور في فلك الكيمياء وصناعاتها منذ القرن التاسع عشر وحتى سبعينيات القرن العشرين. الشرح مبسط ويتعرض للأمثلة العملية على الاستفادات الملحوظة للبشر من ابتكار جزيئات كيميائية جديدة، مع عدم إغفال تأثيراتها التلوثية والمضرة للبيئة.
يُنصح به للمبتديئين في علم الكيمياء.

[Louis Kantor]

Quite interesting, a nice windows into science about 30ish years ago

[أحمد أبو مسلم]

الكتاب في الحقيقة رائع به معلومات قيمة عن الكيمياء، و دورها في جسم الإنسان و تطبيقاتها في الحياة اليومية و ما قدمته و ما سوف تقدمه للبشرية من إنجازات و ما سببه سوء استخدمها من أضرار للبيئة، و لكن احذر أخى القارئ فالكاتب يؤمن بنظرية التطور و النشوء، التي تخالف عقيدة المؤمن و تعتبر كفرا بالله، فاحذر أن تهلك.

[Kinan Arous]

يقدم لنا غراهام ريتشاردز كتابا صغيرا يتحدث عن بعض استخدامات الكيمياء و تاريخها كما يستعرض جانبا فيزيائيا و بيولوجيا صعبا من الكيمياء.