Introduction

This edition of Basics of Inorganic Chemistry has been completely updated to conclude the exciting advances and to present the most current information available. The goals and distinguishing features of Basics of Inorganic Chemistry, however, remain unchanged. This book continues to be a basic text that provides an accessible introduction for undergraduate students who are taking it for the first time.

Goals and Approach

The principal goal has been to provide an accessible and readable guide that can be approached and mastered by undergraduate students, while still being intellectually gratifying and conveying the elements and challenges of research in contemporary Inorganic Chemistry. Since Basics of Inorganic Chemistry covers the most rapidly progressing areas of Chemistry, it remains critical for students not only to have the most current information available, but also to understand the experimental nature of contemporary research in Inorganic Chemistry.

Content and Methodology

With this goal in mind, representative experiments are discussed throughout the text to illustrate the kinds of approaches upon which our current understanding has been built. I hope that, together, these approaches give the student an appreciation of the ways in which progress in understanding the chemistry has been made, and convey the excitement and challenges of participating in this frontier of scientific exploration.

Contents

Atomic Nuclei, Atomic Structure, Classification of the Elements, Forces between Atoms, Complex Ions and Coordination Compounds.