Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry [Hardcover]

Geoff Rayner-Canham (Author), Tina Overton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 28, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1429218142 | ISBN-13: 978-1429218146 | Edition: Fifth Edition

This bestselling text introduces descriptive inorganic chemistry in a less rigorous, less mathematical way.  The book uses the periodic table as basis for understanding chemical properties and uncovering relationships between elements in different groups. 
 
Rayner-Canham and Overton’s text also familiarizes students with the historical background of inorganic chemistry as well as with its crucial applications (especially in regard to industrial processes and environmental issues), resulting in a comprehensive appreciation and understanding of the field and the role it will play in their fields of further study

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

GEOFF RAYNER-CANHAM, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Canada TINA OVERTON, University of Hull, UK

Product Details

• Hardcover: 650 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman; Fifth Edition edition (December 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1429218142
• ISBN-13: 978-1429218146
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Chemistry > Inorganic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent intro text..., August 25, 2002

By 

Concordia University Chemistry Graduate (Montreal, Quebec Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry (Hardcover)

The text is filled with tons of info, yet written so that almost anyone can understand. This text is excellent for an intro course in inorganic or a first year undergraduate chemistry/biochemistry program. However, what it lacks in depth it gains for in it's user friendlyness. A must for students who don't plan on doing any adavnced inorganic chemistry.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introductory text, December 5, 2007

By 

Daniel Rabinovich (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This is a very informative and readable introductory text to inorganic chemistry, and a good choice for those not needing a full semester of coordination, organometallic or solid state inorganic chemistry. We've used this and previous editions for several years for our sophomore-level course, which students pursuing a B.A. degree are required to take (it is also an elective for chemistry minors). This textbook is not comprehensive as "Cotton & Wilkinson" or "Greenwood & Earnshaw" and is probably not suitable for an Advanced Inorganic Chemistry course, which is the one our B.S. chemistry majors take. Overall, we're very satisfied with this textbook.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but lacks something..., April 2, 2009

By 

Justin Mobley (Little Rock, AR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry (Hardcover)

So far, this book has helped me learn what I am trying to learn, but sometimes I find that the presentation of the book is not intuitive enough. I have had to go to the internet several times to look up things that I felt were needed to understand what the text was covering. Once I understood the concepts, I could then go back to the text and continue without much of a problem. I'm sure this would not be a problem in a classroom setting, since a professor usually complements the textbook with their lecture.

Another problem I had with this book is a lack of solution help. The guide, which you can also buy from Amazon, is too expensive for only containing half the solutions (odd problems only). I can understand the need to prevent people from cheating in a classroom setting, but this has hindered me a little bit in the learning process (I am self-teaching myself prior to enrolling in chemistry).

I think the book is overall a good way to learn chemistry, but still feel some of the concepts need to be developed through other material.