Customer Reviews

Inorganic Chemistry (3rd Edition)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I realize that this is supposed to be an introductory book, however it does not provide enough detail to be very useful in my 2nd year inorganic chem class. I am extremely disappointed by this since the book costs so much money. I wonder how much more it would cost if it was hardcover.

It does have a good layout and bright pictures and colors though. I guess this is supposed to stimulate the brain or something.

I find this book frustrating.

The presentation is very poor. Topics are broached willy-nilly with paltry discussion. Sometimes it's just plain laughable. For example, Box 1.3, discussing the particle in the box: "There is one further restriction that we shall simply state: the boundary condition for the particle in the box is that [the wavefunction] must be zero when x=0 and x=a." Instead of a simple statement of this and expecting the student to take it on authority, why not give the *reason* for these boundary conditions, which can be summarized in a single sentence, i.e. 'the wavefunction must be continuous with the region outside the box, which is also zero'? Another example from the first chapter: the section "Ground state electronic configurations: experimental data". After I read this section I couldn't help but think to myself "where's the experimental data? what was the point of this section?"

Which leads to my second criticism: who is this book for? It's too advanced for undergraduates and not advanced enough for graduates. This book attempts to be all-things-to-all-people, in my opinion, which makes it good for no one. It's as though the authors took an undergraduate text and added a few more bits here and there, sporadically, without rhyme or reason. This may or may not be the reason that this book weighs SIX pounds. The authors tried to shoe-horn too much into this book.

Finally, the aesthetics of the book are atrocious. The color scheme used is distracting and hard on the eyes. Dark primary colors and light pastels on the same page?!? On some pages you can count up to six different colors used for separate things. I feel like my eyes are being pulled every direction and find it difficult to concentrate on the text.

However, I do feel like this book may be a good review book. Do you need to freshen up on a wide variety of inorganic chemistry topics without going too much into detail on every topic? This text may indeed suite that purpose very well.

But, being a grad student and having been assigned this book, I have found that in reading it I'm viewing material that is either far too basic and general and therefore a waste of my time or I'm given insufficient details for true understanding when it comes to advanced material. This is why I find this text frustrating and have given it two stars. If it weren't for the encyclopedic nature of the text, it would have received only one star.

Housecroft and Sharpe do an excellent job writing this Inorganic Chemistry book. Its tough writing one of these that will please everyone. I used this book for both Inorganic and Advanced Inorganic chemistry classes. Simplified approach, bright/easily organized layout, plenty of diagrams, pictures, and tables. The LGO approach (as mentioned earlier) was a bit murky. Also, its written by British people so you'll see minor spelling inconsistencies with that of English (people actually had a pet peeve about this but whatever, I found it to be amusing). This book makes such a good source for reference material as well. I never sold this one back and its sitting right above my desk here ready and waiting.

Side Note: I'm using Miessler's Inorganic Chemistry text this semester (for Graduate level Inorganic Chemistry) and looking through it I cringe at all the convoluted ways he presents even some of the most simple concepts. Thank goodness I kept my Housecraft and Sharpe version.

There are many insufficient inorganic textbooks out there, but Housecroft is not one of them. With the easy to follow, but in depth discussions and lots of practice questions this is a great inorganic book for anyone learning inorganic chemistry. Very recommended!

This is a great book! It is always that hardest to organize a book, but Housecroft has done a great job! The pictures and visual descriptions are very usable and easy to teach. This book touches on a little bit of everything. Sometimes depth is needed but that is what supplementary material is for! Thank you!

Speaking as a student, this inorganic chem book doesn't do the best job of explaining the concepts in an easily learn-able way. However, the scope of content covered is very wide.

Great introduction to inorganic chemistry.
The first chapters introduce the theoretical concepts which will later be useful to describe the chemistry of the elements, and do so in a fool-proof way. The discussion is obviously not that detailed, but gets to the point.

The best part of this book is however the one regarding the elements and their chemical behavior. Extremely educative the first time you see it, still very useful later on as a reference. The numerous references to how the elements find use in today's industrial world are a great source of information.
The two chapters on catalysis and solid state chemistry are also valuable, albeit concise.
The only book which may rival this one is Greenwood's, which isn't as good as this one as a learning text though.

Weird the price is so high at amazon... i got it for half the price... new...

Well, just finished up Inorganic chemistry and I found this book to be somwhat helpful. The first few chapters of this book are not too bad and it does a decent job with explaining introductory molecular symmetry (point group, I.R. Spectroscopy....) My issue with this book was it's explanation of bonding in polyatomic molecules. It's ligand group approach was so convoluted I had to use my PCHM book (McQuarrie) to paint somewhat of a clearer picture. Also, the chapter on d-block chemistry could use more math to explain crystal field theory. Anyhow, I only used two different books so I cannot comment on what book to use and/or not to use. Hopes this helps....Oh yeah, Honk if you passed PCHM!

Excellent text and I have been trying to find a copy on it ever since I lost mine... Presents quite a bit of the subject in a very well thought out and organized way... If you ever get the chance, then sit down and take a good look. Serves as a great companion to Cotton and Wilk. "Basic Inorganic Chemistry" or those books...

This is a great step by step solutions book. It helps to understand the concepts explained in the main textbook.