In designing this text, our aim has been to provide a comprehensive description of modern inorganic chemistry in a single volume. We have endeavored to address the concepts related to virtually all the segments of chemical elements and their compounds in a clear and systematic manner. The chemistry of inorganic materials is discussed with special reference to periodicity, structure, bonding, reactivity and bio-chemical characteristics. Box Items and Case Studies have been incorporated extensively to relate the principles governing inorganic chemistry with social, economic and historical issues.

The basic structure of the present text is a natural progression from its earlier editions. Several new topics, including black-body radiation, experimental evidence for electron spin, normalized and orthogonal wave functions, crystal radii, Sanderson electronegativity scale, formal charge, theories of hydrogen bonding, detection of radioactive radiations, corrosion and organometallic catalysts find a place in this edition. Industrially important compounds like silicates, silicones and phosphazenes have been brought in the ambit of a new chapter, `Inorganic Polymers'. Another new chapter, `Quantitative Analysis' presents a schematic procedure for deduction of ions in inorganic substances. The chemistry of zinc, cadmium and mercury has been dealt with in yet another new chapter, `Group 12 Elements'. The information has been disseminated in an easy-to-learn format.