When Topology Meets Chemistry: A Topological Look At Molecular Chirality (outlooks)

The Applications Of Topological Techniques For Understanding Molecular Structures Have Become Increasingly Important Over The Past Thirty Years. In This Topology Text, The Reader Will Learn About Knot Theory, 3-dimensional Manifolds, And The Topology Of Embedded Graphs, While Learning The Role These Play In Understanding Molecular Structures. Most Of The Results That Are Described In The Text Are Motivated By Questions Asked By Chemists Or Molecular Biologists, Though The Results Themselves Often Go Beyond Answering The Original Question Asked. There Is No Specific Mathematical Or Chemical Prerequisite; All The Relevant Background Is Provided. The Text Is Enhanced By Nearly 200 Illustrations And More Than 100 Exercises. Reading This Fascinating Book, Undergraduate Mathematics Students Can Escape The World Of Pure Abstract Theory And Enter That Of Real Molecules, While Chemists And Biologists Will Find Simple, Clear But Rigorous Definitions Of Mathematical Concepts They Handle Intuitively In Their Work. Erica Flapan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 233-237) And Index. In this superb topology text, the readers not only learn about knot theory, 3-dimensional manifolds, and the topology of embedded graphs, but also their role in understanding molecular structures. Most results described in the text are motivated by the questions of chemists or molecular biologists, though they often go beyond answering the original question asked. No specific mathematical or chemical prerequisites are required. The text is enhanced by nearly 200 illustrations and 100 exercises. With this fascinating book, undergraduate mathematics students escape the world of pure abstract theory and enter that of real molecules, while chemists and biologists find simple and clear but rigorous definitions of mathematical concepts they handle intuitively in their work. Stereochemistry is the study of the three-dimensional structure of molecules, and topology is the study of those properties of geometric objects that are invariant under continuous transformations. This superb topology text not only explains knot theory, 3-dimensional manifolds, and the topology of embedded graphs, but also their role in understanding molecular structures.