Product Description

When this innovative textbook first appeared in 1984 it rapidly became a great success throughout the world and has already been translated into several European and Asian languages. Now the authors have completely revised and updated the text, including more than 2000 new literature references to work published since the first edition. No page has been left unaltered but the novel features which proved so attractive have been retained. The book presents a balanced, coherent and comprehensive account of the chemistry of the elements for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. This crucial central area of chemistry is full of ingenious experiments, intriguing compounds and exciting new discoveries. The authors specifically avoid the term `inorganic chemistry' since this evokes an outmoded view of chemistry which is no longer appropriate in the final decade of the 20th century.

Accordingly, the book covers not only the 'inorganic' chemistry of the elements, but also analytical, theoretical, industrial, organometallic, bio-inorganic and other cognate areas of chemistry. The authors have broken with recent tradition in the teaching of their subject and adopted a new and highly successful approach based on descriptive chemistry. The chemistry of the elements is still discussed within the context of an underlying theoretical framework, giving cohesion and structure to the text, but at all times the chemical facts are emphasized. Students are invited to enter the exciting world of chemical phenomena with a sound knowledge and understanding of the subject, to approach experimentation with an open mind, and to assess observations reliably. This is a book that students will not only value during their formal education, but will keep and refer to throughout their careers as chemists.

Completely revised and updated
Unique approach to the subject
More comprehensive than competing titles

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77126 in Books
• Published on: 1997-11-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1600 pages

Review
'Presents a balanced, coherent and comprehensive account of the
chemistry of the elements.'
THE CHEMICAL ENGINEER, FEB '98

' The innovative and successful textbook presents a balanced coherent and comprehensive account of the elements for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.'

Documentation Journal
' Completely revised and updated'
' Gives a balanced, coherent and comprehensive account of the chemistry of the elements for undergraduate and postgraduate students'
' The authors use descriptive chemistry to discuss the Chemistry of the Elements

Booknews
"...should be aquired by all serious chemistry undergraduates and graduate students...and is good value for money."

"The second editiion continues the good work of the first and should be acquired by all serious chemistry undergraduates and graduate students (and inorganic chemistry staff)..it is good value for money..all chemists should buy this new edition, and use it."
APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMIST -- Review

Review
'Presents a balanced, coherent and comprehensive account of the
chemistry of the elements.'
THE CHEMICAL ENGINEER, FEB '98

' The innovative and successful textbook presents a balanced coherent and comprehensive account of the elements for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.'

Documentation Journal
' Completely revised and updated'
' Gives a balanced, coherent and comprehensive account of the chemistry of the elements for undergraduate and postgraduate students'
' The authors use descriptive chemistry to discuss the Chemistry of the Elements

Booknews
"...should be aquired by all serious chemistry undergraduates and graduate students...and is good value for money."

"The second editiion continues the good work of the first and should be acquired by all serious chemistry undergraduates and graduate students (and inorganic chemistry staff)..it is good value for money..all chemists should buy this new edition, and use it."
APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMIST

From the Publisher
Accordingly, the book covers not only the 'inorganic' chemistry of the elements, but also analytical, theoretical, industrial, organometallic, bio-inorganic and other cognate areas of chemistry. The authors have broken with recent tradition in the teaching of their subject and adopted a new and highly successful approach based on descriptive chemistry. The chemistry of the elements is still discussed within the context of an underlying theoretical framework, giving cohesion and structure to the text, but at all times the chemical facts are emphasized. Students are invited to enter the exciting world of chemical phenomena with a sound knowledge and understanding of the subject, to approach experimentation with an open mind, and to assess observations reliably. This is a book that students will not only value during their formal education, but also will keep and refer to throughout their careers as chemists.

Customer Reviews

Very interesting and useful book
Very interesting and useful book. So specific for the study of the Inorganic chemistry. I recommend it for University or Ph. D. levels.

Great reference, but it is not a popular science book
For anyone in need of a general reference on the chemical elements and their compounds (anyone majoring or working in chemistry), this book is indeed the bible. It has the advantage of being a well-written reference, but make no mistake, it is a reference - in the same way that a book on grammar, even if it is well-written, is still a book on grammar. Which means that if you are looking for an interesting and pleasantly readable popular science book about the chemical elements, and unless you have a serious technical interest in chemistry, this is probably not the best choice. The author doesn't make any claims that it was written for a popular audience, but some of the reviews seem to hint that it might be.

A useful general reference for the chemistry major.
Before I got a copy of this book I was always intrigued by the references to it in other texts. It does indeed have many interesting things in it. Some of the material it covers I have not seen in any other text.

With that said however, this book is not really all that suitable as a standalone text for a course. It is missing too much descriptive chemistry and coordination theory to support an inorganic course. It is written at too high a level for a general chemistry course. It just doesn't seem to fit well anywhere.

It has a great deal of information, arranged based on periodicity, especially in the areas of terrestrial abundance and industrial chemistry. Chemistry of the Elements repeats very little of what is covered in Cotton & Wilkinson's Advanced Inorganic and is well worth having to supplement that text.

I enjoy reading this book, but I doubt I will ever use it exclusively for a course. Worth the money for the major and those interested but not for everyone!