“To put it short, this is THE BOOK, that I would like to use in Inorganic Chemistry. The book contains all the information needed. Furthermore, it is well and logically presented. The problems related with each chapter are good; and the suggestions for further reading are highly relevant.”
Markku Sundberg, Helsinki University, Finland

"I've had one of my students take a look at the book and I virtually had to tear it from his hands in order to get it back!"
Professor Nikolaus Korber, University of Regensburg, Germany

“Housecroft--Sharpe has been the far most superior contemporary inorganic chemistry textbook there is. It was the case of the 1st edition and it remains so for the 2nd edition. The book is also a very good comprehensive text for chemists in general, PhD students and researchers. Clearly, students may prefer the more colorful 2nd edition, and so will their teachers for pedagogical reasons.”
Pavel Karen, Oslo University, Norway

“My tutorial group students… thought that the addition of colour was a major improvement relative to the 1st edition. I thought that the section on Group Theory and symmetry is much better handled in the 2nd edition.”
Mary Mahon, Bath University, UK

“Undoubtedly, the new colour format makes the book seem more attractive to the reader; I noted that the descriptive chemistry has been updated also. It is pleasing that the authors continue to provide a broad coverage of chemistry throughout the Periodic Table while maintaining a reasonable size of book. One of the most important features (and one that recommended the book to us as a text) is that topics are presented in a straightforward manner, making them accessible to the less able students.”
Professor John Winfield, Glasgow University, UK

Inorganic Chemistry

Catherine E. Housecroft and Alan G. Sharpe

This book has established itself as a leading textbook in the subject by offering a fresh and exciting approach to the teaching of modern inorganic chemistry. It gives a clear introduction to key principles with strong coverage of descriptive chemistry of the elements. Special selected topics chapters are included, covering inorganic kinetics and mechanism, catalysis, solid state chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry.

A new full-colour text design and three-dimensional illustrations bring inorganic chemistry to life. Topic boxes have been used extensively throughout the book to relate the chemistry described in the text to everyday life, the chemical industry, environmental issues and legislation, and natural resources.

Teaching aids throughout the text have been carefully designed to help students learn effectively. The many worked examples take students through each calculation or exercise step by step, and are followed by related self-study exercises tackling similar problems with answers to help develop their confidence. In addition, end-of-chapter problems reinforce learning and develop subject knowledge and skills. Definitions boxes and end-of-chapter checklists provide excellent revision aids, while further reading suggestions, from topical articles to recent literature papers, will encourage students to explore topics in more depth.

New to this edition

• Many more self-study exercises have been introduced throughout the book with the aim of making stronger connections between descriptive chemistry and underlying principles.
• Additional 'overview problems' have been added to the end-of-chapter problem sets.
• The descriptive chemistry has been updated, with many new results from the literature being included.
• Chapter 4 – Bonding in polyatomic molecules, has been rewritten with greater emphasis on the use of group theory for the derivation of ligand group orbitals and orbital symmetry labels.
• There is more coverage of supercritical fluids and 'green' chemistry.
• The new full-colour text design enhances the presentation of the many molecular structures and 3-D images.

Supporting this edition

• Companion website featuring multiple-choice questions and rotatable 3-D molecular structures, available at www.rearsoned.co.uk/housecroft. For full information, including details of lecturer material, see the Contents list inside the book.
• ASolutions Manual, written by Catherine E. Housecroft, with detailed solutions to all end-of-chapter problems within the text is available for purchase separately ISBN 0131 39926 8.

Catherine E. Housecroft is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Basel, Switzerland. She is the author of a number of textbooks and has extensive teaching experience in the UK, Switzerland, South Africa and the USA. Alan G. Sharpe is a Fellow of Jesus College, University of Cambridge, UK and has had many years of experience teaching inorganic chemistry to undergraduates