Table of Contents

1. The Electronic Structure of the Atom: A Review.- 2. The Structure of the Periodic Table.- 3. Covalent Bonding and Molecular Spectroscopy.- 4. Metallic Bonding, Alloys, and Composites.- 5. Ionic Bonding and Solid State Behaviour.- 6. Why Compounds Exist Inorganic Thermodynamics.- 7. Solvent Systems and Acid-Base Behavior.- 8. Oxidation and Reduction.- 9. Periodic Patterns.- 10. Hydrogen.- 11. The Group 1 Elements: The Alkali Metals.- 12. The Group 2 Elements: The Alkaline Earth Metals.- 13. The Group 13 Elements.- 14. The Group 14 Elements.- 15. The Group 15 Elements: The Pnictogens.- 16. The Group 16 Elements: The Chalcogens.- 17. The Group 17 Elements: The Halogens.- 18. The Group 18 Elements: The Noble Gases.- 19. Transition Metal Complexes.- 20. Properties of the 3d Transition Metals.- 21. Properties of the 4d and 5d Transition Metals.- 22. The Group 12 Elements.- 23. Organometallic Chemistry.- 24. The Rare Earth and Actinoid Elements.

About the Author

Geoff Rayner-Canham is Professor of Chemistry at the Grenfell Campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. After having completing a Ph.D. in transition metal chemistry at Imperial College, London, England, he has spent the bulk of his teaching career in Canada with frequent sabbatical leaves at such diverse places as the Colorado School of Mines, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of York. Being unable to find an inorganic chemistry text which used the concepts to explain the properties and uses of the chemical elements and compounds, he joined forces with Tina Overton to author Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry. Geoff has authored many publications relevant to the teaching of inorganic chemistry, including several on novel aspects of the Periodic Table. Recognition of his contributions to the teaching of chemistry have included the Chemistry Education Award of the Chemical Institute of Canada, and the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada PromoScience Award. Researching the life and work of pioneering women chemists is another of his activities, this work resulting in several books co-authored with Marelene Rayner-Canham.

Tina Overton is Professor of Chemistry Education at the University of Hull, UK. She is deeply engaged in chemical education research, and has published extensively on the topics of critical thinking, context and problem-based learning, and the development of problem-solving skills. She has been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry's HE Teaching Award, Tertiary Education Award and Nyholm Prize, and is a National Teaching Fellow and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.