28 Mar 2008

Miessler and Tarr: Inorganic Chemistry, 3rd. Ed

Textbook

Submitted by Nancy Scott Burke Williams, Scripps College, Pitzer College, Claremont McKenna College
Categories
Corequisites: 
No Corequisites
Prerequisites: 
No Prerequisites
Course Level: 
Upper Division
Topics Covered: 
Acid-base chemistry
Bonding models: Discrete molecules
Bonding models: Extended systems
Chemical literature
Communication skills
Computer modeling
Descriptive chemistry
Diffraction
Electron transfer
Electronic spectroscopy
Electronic structure
Extended structure
Group theory & applications
Kinetics
Molecular structure
Nomenclature
Periodic trends
Physical methods / analytical techniques
Physical properties
Professional skills development
Reaction mechanisms
Symmetry
Synthesis and reactivity
Thermodynamics
Subdiscipline: 
Atomic Structure and Periodicity
f-block Chemistry
Main Group Chemistry
Molecular Structure and Bonding
Organometallic Chemistry
Solid State and Materials Chemistry
Spectroscopy and Structural Methods
Description: 

Miessler and Tarr is an inorganic textbook which is is best suited to an upper-division one-semester inorganic course, though there is more material than can be covered in a single semester, so some choice of topics is necessary.  It is very well suited for a course oriented around structure, bonding, and reaction chemistry of transition metal compounds, but is very limited in its treatment of solids, main-group, descriptive chemistry, and bioinorganic.  Pchem would be helpful but is not necessary.  In particular, the treatment of MO theory is very in-depth.  The quality of end-of chapter problems is generally good.  The book is fairly readable, giving it an advantage over some of the more "reference work" style textbooks, but as a result, is a less useful text to have on your bookshelf five years hence.  Pearson Higher Ed. suggests a retail price of $144.20.  

Creative Commons License: 
Creative Commons Licence

Comments

Maggie Geselbracht, Reed College - April 6, 2008 - 2:27am
I have used this book for many years for my sophomore level pre-Pchem inorganic chemistry course.  I find that I can easily pick reading assignments that avoid the more complex topics and yet provide a strong foundation for what I teach.  The MO chapter in particular, offers a very readable pictorial approach so that students can learn from MO diagrams without having to learn all of the group theory necessary to generate them on their own.  The lack of in-depth coverage on solid state chemistry is problematic, but I supplement with readings from "Teaching General Chemistry: A Materials Science Companion" available from Oxford University Press (I have several copies of this text on reserve for students to read.).  I have tried other texts periodically, but I always seem to return to this one.

Joanne Stewart, Hope College - June 19, 2008 - 11:22am

I feel like I have used nearly every inorganic text out there, and this is the one I've settled on for the last few years for our one-semester pre-P Chem inorganic course.

I really like the way the authors treat atomic structure (especially orbitals) and, like Maggie, the qualitative approach to MO theory works well for me. I introduce character tables, but skip the section on molecular vibrations in order to jump straight into molecular orbitals.

I also skip the chapter on electronic spectra of coordination compounds. 

I supplement the solid state chapter with an exercise that uses the ICE solid state model kits. I have posted the activity to VIPEr. It's called "Solid-State Model Building Exercise."

Joanne Stewart

Thomas Barnard, Cardinal Stritch University - October 17, 2009 - 11:57am
I have found this text to be the one I have chosen for my lone one-semester inorganic course.  I tend to skip alot of the same material in the text.  Seems to work best for what I can do in a 2-credit course with students who may or may not have taken PChem

Maggie Geselbracht, Reed College - January 13, 2010 - 6:55pm

Here is an alternative use for this textbook.

http://thereifixedit.com/2010/01/11/another-problem-solved-with-science/

One of the commenters, Rissa at 1:27 pm on Jan 11 says, "Having studied inorganic chemistry, I can tell you with authority that this is the only good use for that book."

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