This book is a comprehensive review of the chemistry of what are the simplest and most fundamental species present in aqueous solution for a chemical element - an ‘aqua’ ion. Understanding the chemistry of the aqua ion i.e. the species [M(OH₂)_n]^m+ is fundamental to an appreciation of not only a given elements aqueous solution chemistry, but also to the general chemical properties of that element. The Chemistry of Aqua Ions has been written at a time when environmental issues and the move towards ‘clean technology’ is driving synthetic chemists away from organic based solvent systems and towards water as the preferred medium of the future. The paints industry has already moved to aqueous based products. Metal aqua complexes are widely used in the areas of catalysis, dyes and pigments and in hydrometallurgy where a complete understanding of the metal ions in aqueous media is highly desirable. This is the first book to treat the chemistry of the aqua ions as a self-contained topic. It includes basic concepts relating to the structure of water and periodic trends concerning the state of hydration of metal ions in solution. It examines the significant role that spectroscopic techniques, e.g. NMR, Raman spectroscopy, EXAFS and diffraction techniques have played in establishing the structures of aqua metallic species. Element by element through the periodic table, the author reviews the preparative and separative techniques for aquated ions and their derivatives, physical techniques and their structure and reactivity with a strong emphasis on reaction mechanisms. The Chemistry of Aqua Ions -invaluable reading for all research students in the physical and natural sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, environmental, colloid and soil science, and practicing professional chemists and environmentalists in research and industry.