BOOK REVIEW: Techniques in Inorganic Chemistry

Page 1

44

Reviews

Techniques in Inorganic Chemistry Subject area Inorganic chemistry Description Collection of revised articles on modern techniques used by practising inorganic chemists, previously submitted to Comments on Inorganic Chemistry Authors Edited by John P Fackler Jr and Larry Falvello Publisher/Supplier CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group) <www.crcpress.com> Date/Edition 2010/1st edition ISBN 978-1-4398-1514-4 Level Graduate Price ÂŁ80.00

This A5-sized textbook Summary Review comprises six chapters produced as a result of revision of articles originally submitted to range: * poor to ***** good Comments on Inorganic Academic content **** Chemistry by a number of Usefulness to student **** international experts and collaborations. The original Usefulness to teacher **** articles dated from as early as Meets objectives ***** 2003 but have been significantly Accuracy ***** updated to describe modern methods used by research students and chemists for studying the properties and structures of inorganic chemicals. This branch of chemistry plays an increasingly significant role in modern science, from the development of new materials to applications in biology and medicine. The editors have assembled the articles to inform students and researchers of inorganic chemistry about the scope and limitations of the techniques currently used in this branch of chemistry. The contributing authors are from the UK, Italy, Greece, the US and Canada. The six chapters have a standard layout, reflecting their origins as journal articles. Each has an introduction to the topic, some background information, development of the technique with significant amounts of detail, predictions for the future, acknowledgements, and a comprehensive list of references. The dates on the references show that the authors respect the development of the techniques from their origins to current uses. The text covers the following broad topic areas: - Crystallography and diffraction methods - Quantum Chemistry - Spectroscopy It is divided into six chapters of varying length, with varying amounts of illustration. Black and white illustrations are in sequence with the text but coloured illustrations are collected in sixteen glossy pages inserted into one section of the book. This is no doubt done for the purpose of coloured printing but it seems strange to have to have them grouped just after the start of Chapter four, disrupting the text in that chapter and also necessitating referencing back and forward to link the illustrations with the relevant text. The six chapters are: 1. Current developments in Small Molecule X-ray Crystallography 2. X-ray Powder Diffraction Characterization of Polymeric Metal Diazolates 3. Single Crystal Neutron Diffraction for the Inorganic Chemist - A Practical Guide 4. Adventures of Quantum Chemistry in the Realm of Inorganic Chemistry 5. NMR Techniques for Investigating the Supramolecular Structure of Co-ordination Compounds in Solution 6. Pressure-Induced Change of d-d Luminescence Energies, Vibronic Structures, and Band Intensities in Transition Metal Complexes

Marie Walsh Department of Applied Science Limerick Institute of Technology Limerick ROI November 2010

The titles of each chapter alone demonstrate that this text is not dealing with standard undergraduate laboratory techniques, as the editors even acknowledge when they comment on the limited availability of neutron sources to allow researchers access to neutron diffraction techniques. However, it is a superb information source for anyone interested in


Volume 11, Issue 2

45

Techniques in Inorganic Chemistry From the publisher...

Techniques in Inorganic Chemistry Edited by John P Fackler Jr and Larry Falvello Inorganic chemistry continues to generate much current interest due to its array of applications, ranging from materials to biology and medicine. Techniques in Inorganic Chemistry assembles a collection of articles from international experts who describe modern methods used by research students and chemists for studying the properties and structures of inorganic chemicals. Derived from select articles in Comments on Inorganic Chemistry, this volume provides a solid background in the array of techniques available in the researcher’s toolkit.

978-14398-1514-4 219pp 2010 ÂŁ80.00

current sophisticated techniques in inorganic chemistry, showing the application of state of the art characterization techniques, as well as the impact of computation in this area, with real-life examples where relevant. It also looks at developments in spectroscopy, including intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) NMR experiments and diffusion experiments, offering examples that demonstrate theoretical aspects of the methodology. It ends with a summary of recent experimental and theoretical work on pressure effects on the d-d and luminescence spectra of transition metal complexes.

This book is recommended as a reference text for researchers in inorganic chemistry, but is too advanced for typical undergraduate courses - except, perhaps, for the more senior project students. Having said that, it will appeal to experts in the field who continuously update their knowledge to state of the art standards.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.