Electrons, Atoms, and Molecules in Inorganic Chemistry A Worked Examples Approach By Joseph J. Stephanos Anthony W. Addison
📘 New Book Spotlight: Electrons, Atoms, and Molecules in Inorganic Chemistry — A Worked Examples Approach
I’m pleased to introduce a significant contribution to the inorganic chemistry canon: Electrons, Atoms, and Molecules in Inorganic Chemistry: A Worked Examples Approach, by Joseph J. Stephanos and Anthony W. Addison (Academic Press, 2017). This text is especially valuable for researchers, senior students, and educators who wish to deepen their understanding of bonding, electronic structure, and spectroscopy through worked problems and rich theoretical discussion.
Author Credentials & Context
「Joseph J. Stephanos」 is an Associate Professor specializing in inorganic, bioinorganic, and biophysics chemistry at Menoufia University (Egypt). His research includes structure‐function relations in biomolecules, metalloproteins, and model compounds.
「Anthony W. Addison」 holds a high standing in the field — Fellowships in the Royal Society of Chemistry and American Chemical Society, extensive publication record (over 240 papers), and recognized leadership in inorganic synthesis and biomimetic complexes.
Their combined expertise ensures that the book is not just pedagogical but rooted in current, genuine challenges in modern inorganic chemistry.
What the Book Covers
This volume is organized to build from fundamentals up through more advanced topics. Its scope includes (but is not limited to):
Wave–particle duality and the behaviour of electrons in atoms
Chemical bonding: valence bond theory, molecular orbital theory, orbital hybridization
A mathematics supplement for analytical tools needed for quantitative understanding.
Each chapter ends with summaries of important literature and review articles, which is a nice bridge between textbook learning and contemporary research.
Pedagogical Strengths
What makes this book stand out (yes, besides its nicely clear prose and full‐colour illustrations) are features that many textbooks often skimp on:
「Worked Examples」
Many “real” chemical problems with detailed solutions. It’s not just “here is theory, now you solve”; instead examples are interspersed with theory to aid comprehension.
「Range of Problem Difficulty」
Starts with simpler, classical problems to build confidence, then moves to more complex, realistic scenarios. This makes it useful for both early graduate students and more experienced practitioners.
「Discussion of Failures & Research Stories」
The authors do not pretend that every experiment or model worked perfectly. There are case studies of what didn’t work, which is refreshing and valuable — reminding the reader that science is imperfect, and modeling/theory must always be tempered with reality.
「Interdependence & Data Variety」
Problems use a mix of chemical and physical data; this trains the reader to move between abstract theory, numerical data, spectroscopy, geometry etc.
Who Will Benefit Most
This book is especially suited for:
Graduate students or advanced undergraduates aiming to strengthen their foundation in inorganic chemistry concepts.
Researchers who work in related areas (bioinorganic, coordination chemistry, spectroscopy) who need a reference for theory + practical problem solving.
Educators looking for a modern textbook incorporating worked problems, recent review literature, and real‐world modelling mistakes.
Self‐learners who already have some background and want more than just “definitions + derivations” but understanding through examples.
Potential Limitations / Considerations
Because the book leans heavily into worked examples, readers with little prior exposure might find some chapters challenging without supplementary background.
Some sections require comfort in quantum mechanics / mathematical tools (especially in MO theory, orbital symmetry) — the mathematical supplement helps, but may require additional resources.
Price and availability: academic texts like this are not always cheap or easy to obtain in all regions.
Concluding Thought
If you’re looking to deepen your grasp of how atoms, electrons, and molecules behave — not just in ideal textbook settings but in the imperfect real world of data, experiments, and models — this is a textbook I can strongly recommend. It rewards effort. For those wanting firm foundations plus advanced applications, Electrons, Atoms, and Molecules in Inorganic Chemistry by Stephanos & Addison is a compelling choice.📚✨
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