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Inorganic Chemistry cover

Chemistry

Chemistry

Inorganic Chemistry

Catherine E. Housecroft

An inorganic chemistry textbook that combines physical-inorganic principles with systematic descriptive chemistry of the elements. It builds from atomic structure, bonding, symmetry and spectroscopy to the chemistry of the s-, p-, d- and f-block elements, coordination and organometallic chemistry, and the roles of inorganic compounds in catalysis, materials and biology.

Prerequisites: First-year general chemistry, including atomic structure, bonding and basic thermodynamics; calculus helps.

Difficulty Level
Intermediate
Academic Level
Undergraduate
inorganic chemistrychemical bondingcoordination chemistrymain-group chemistrytransition metalsTextbook

01 / Reading Guide

Reading Guide

Citation

Housecroft, C. E. (2026). Inorganic Chemistry (6th ed.). Pearson.

Chapter Summary

The sixth edition (published by Pearson on 31 October 2025, copyright 2026) is listed with 29 chapters, followed by sections on the nomenclature of inorganic compounds and a brief history of inorganic chemistry, appendices, and answers to non-descriptive problems. The publisher describes it as a widely respected introduction to physical-inorganic chemistry with comprehensive coverage of core principles, new research, and an introduction to the descriptive chemistry of the elements and the role of inorganic chemistry in everyday life.

Chapters 1–4: Basic concepts: atoms; Basic concepts: molecules; Introduction to molecular symmetry; Experimental techniques

Two chapters of basic concepts, one on atoms and one on molecules, are followed by an introduction to molecular symmetry and a chapter on experimental techniques.

Chapters 5–9: Bonding in polyatomic molecules; Structures and energetics of metallic and ionic solids; Acids, bases and ions in aqueous solution; Reduction and oxidation; Non-aqueous media

The principles block continues with bonding in polyatomic molecules, the structures and energetics of solids, and then solution chemistry: acids and bases, redox, and non-aqueous media.

Chapters 10–18: Hydrogen; Group 1: the alkali metals; The group 2 metals; The group 13 elements; The group 14 elements; The group 15 elements; The group 16 elements; The group 17 elements; The group 18 elements

The systematic chemistry of the main-group elements, with one chapter each for hydrogen and for Groups 1, 2 and 13–18.

Chapters 19–22: d-Block metal chemistry: general considerations; d-Block metal chemistry: coordination complexes; d-Block metal chemistry: the first row metals; d-Block metal chemistry: the heavier metals

Four chapters on the d-block, from general considerations and coordination complexes to the first-row and the heavier metals.

Chapters 23–25: Organometallic compounds of s- and p-block elements; Organometallic compounds of d-block elements; Catalysis and some industrial processes

Organometallic chemistry is divided between s- and p-block compounds and d-block compounds, followed by a chapter on catalysis and industrial processes.

Chapters 26–29: d-Block metal complexes: reaction mechanisms; The f-block metals: lanthanoids and actinoids; Inorganic materials and nanotechnology; The trace metals of life

The last chapters take up reaction mechanisms of d-block complexes, the f-block metals, inorganic materials and nanotechnology, and the trace metals of life.

Key Concepts

Chapters 1–9: Principles

  • Molecular symmetry, introduced early in Chapter 3.
  • Experimental techniques as a dedicated chapter.
  • Bonding in polyatomic molecules.
  • Structures and energetics of metallic and ionic solids.
  • Aqueous and non-aqueous solution chemistry, with acid–base and redox in separate chapters.

Chapters 10–22: The Elements

  • Group-by-group descriptive chemistry of hydrogen and the main-group elements.
  • d-Block coordination complexes and the chemistry of first-row and heavier metals.

Chapters 23–29: Organometallics, Mechanisms, Materials and Biology

  • Organometallic compounds of the s-, p- and d-block elements.
  • Catalysis and industrial processes.
  • Reaction mechanisms of d-block complexes.
  • The f-block metals, inorganic materials and nanotechnology, and the trace metals of life.

Critical Analysis

Strengths

  • Principles first, then the elements. The first nine chapters give the principles (atoms, molecules, symmetry, techniques, bonding, solids, solution chemistry) before the descriptive chapters, matching the publisher's description of a physical-inorganic approach.
  • Symmetry and techniques come early. Molecular symmetry (Chapter 3) and experimental techniques (Chapter 4) come before the systematic chemistry of the elements, so a course can introduce them first.
  • Wide coverage of applications. Catalysis and industrial processes, inorganic materials and nanotechnology, and the trace metals of life each have a chapter, and the publisher highlights inorganic chemistry in everyday life.
  • Current edition. The sixth edition is listed as incorporating new research, and Pearson offers it in print and as an eTextbook.

Limitations

  • Length. With 29 chapters plus nomenclature and history sections, a single course cannot cover everything, so selection is needed.
  • The d-block is split across several chapters. Coordination complexes (Chapter 20), the first-row and heavier metals (Chapters 21–22) and reaction mechanisms (Chapter 26) are separated by other material, so a coordination chemistry unit must be assembled from several places.

Where It Fits in the Course

Housecroft is a main text for a physical-inorganic course. Shriver, Weller, Overton, Armstrong and Rourke's Inorganic Chemistry is its closest counterpart in this list; the two cover similar ground, but Shriver's contents place molecular symmetry at Chapter 6 and end with a Frontiers part, whereas Housecroft introduces symmetry at Chapter 3 and gives s- and p-block and d-block organometallic compounds separate chapters.

Rayner-Canham and Overton's Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry is an introductory group-by-group survey and a good preparation before Housecroft's Chapters 10–18. Scerri's The Periodic Table: A Very Short Introduction is a short companion for periodic trends. For deeper treatment, Pfennig's Principles of Inorganic Chemistry develops symmetry, group theory and molecular-orbital models, and Crabtree's The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals is a graduate text on the subject of Chapter 24.

How to Use This Book

The publisher does not list prerequisites on its page. The first two chapters are labelled "Basic concepts" (atoms, then molecules), which makes them the entry point for readers who need a refresher.

A practical plan: read Chapters 1–9 as the foundation, giving particular attention to Chapter 3 on symmetry. Then take the group chapters (10–18) according to the course, and read the d-block chapters (19–22) together with Chapter 26 on mechanisms. Chapters 23–25 are the route from coordination to organometallic chemistry and catalysis, and Chapters 27–29 suit courses with an emphasis on materials or biological inorganic chemistry. Use the answers to non-descriptive problems at the back to check calculations.