Explains the basics of inorganic chemistry with a primary emphasis on facts; then uses the student's growing factual knowledge as a foundation for discussing the important principles of periodicity in structure, bonding and reactivity. New to this updated edition: improved treatment of atomic orbitals and properties such as electronegativity, novel approaches to the depiction of ionic structures, nomenclature for transition metal compounds, quantitative approaches to acid-base chemistry, Wade's rules for boranes and carboranes, the chemistry of major new classes of substances including fullerenes and silenes plus a chapter on the inorganic solid state.

Retains the easy-to-read format and informal flavor of the previous editions, and includes new material on the symmetric properties of extended arrays (crystals), projection operators, LCAO molecular orbitals, and electron counting rules. Also contains many new exercises and illustrations.

For more than a quarter century, Cotton and Wilkinson's Advanced Inorganic Chemistry has been the source that students and professional chemists have turned to for the background needed to understand current research literature in inorganic chemistry and aspects of organometallic chemistry. Like its predecessors, this updated Sixth Edition is organized around the periodic table of elements and provides a systematic treatment of the chemistry of all chemical elements and their compounds. It incorporates important recent developments with an emphasis on advances in the interpretation of structure, bonding, and reactivity.

From the reviews of the Fifth Edition:

• "The first place to go when seeking general information about the chemistry of a particular element, especially when up-to-date, authoritative information is desired." —Journal of the American Chemical Society.
• "Every student with a serious interest in inorganic chemistry should have [this book]." —Journal of Chemical Education.
• "A mine of information . . . an invaluable guide." —Nature.
• "The standard by which all other inorganic chemistry books are judged."—Nouveau Journal de Chimie.
• "A masterly overview of the chemistry of the elements."—The Times of London Higher Education Supplement.
• "A bonanza of information on important results and developments which could otherwise easily be overlooked in the general deluge of publications." —Angewandte Chemie.