E-Book Overview
Main Group Chemistry covers the chemistry of the s- and p-block elements, together with a brief chapter on the chemistry of zinc, cadmium and mercury, often classified as main group elements rather than as transition elements. The Periodic Table is an important predictive tool in main group chemistry and in this book, forms the basis for describing the trends and variations in the chemistry of the elements. Introductory material covers the basic principles behind the Periodic Table, bonding, electronegativity and VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory. The chemistry of various groups of elements is then discussed. The book incorporates a valuable chapter on inorganic polymers, discussing the chemistry of materials such as silicates, silicones, phosphazenes and diamond. Additional material is available on the website at www.rsc.org/tct Ideal for the needs of undergraduate chemistry students, Tutorial Chemistry Texts is a major series consisting of short, single topic or modular texts concentrating on the fundamental areas of chemistry taught in undergraduate science courses. Each book provides a concise account of the basic principles underlying a given subject, embodying an independent-learning philosophy and including worked examples.
E-Book Content
Cover images 0Murray Robertson/visual elements 1998-99, taken from the 109 Visual Elements Periodic Table. available at www.chemsoc.org/viselements
ISBN 0-85404-617-8
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
0 The Royal Society of Chemistry 2000
Published by The Royal Society of Chemistry, Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4OWE UK For further information see our web site at www.rsc.org Typeset in Great Britain by Wyvern 2 1, Bristol Printed and bound by Polestar Wheatons Ltd, Exeter
Preface
More than in any other region of the Periodic Table, the main group (sand p-block) elements are diverse, ranging from highly reactive nonmetallic elements such as fluorine, through semi-metals (e.g. silicon) to the highly reactive alkali metals. The Periodic Table itself is an excellent framework for the discussion of the trends in physical and chemical properties of the main group elements and their compounds. This book has been written with the aim of summarizing some of the more important features of the vast and varied chemistry of the main group elements, emphasizing some of the more important periodic trends and principles for rationalizing the properties. Discussion of the descriptive chemistry is backed up by worked examples and problems. Space restrictions have limited discussion of several areas where main group elements are significant players, such as bio-inorganic chemistry and industrial chemistry. I would like to thank Professor Brian Nicholson, Dr. Richard Coll and Dr. Michael Taylor for many helpful comments on various drafts of the manuscript. I am also indebted to my wife, Angela, for giving me a teacher’s point of view on the material. Further problems, with answers, are available on the RSC’s Tutorial Chemistry Texts website at http://www.chemsoc.org/tct/maingrouphome. htm
This series of books consists of short, single-topic or modular texts, concentrating on the fundamental areas of chemistry taught in undergraduate science courses. Each book provides a concise account of the basic principles underlying a given subject. embodying an independentlearning philosophy and including worked examples. The one topic, one book approach ensures that the series is adaptable to chemistry courses across a variety of institutions. TITLES I N THF S E K l E S
FORTH CO M I N G T I T L ES
Stereochemistry D G‘ Morris Reactions and Charxterization of Solids S E Dmii Main Group Chemistry W Henikc~rsori Quantum Mechanics for Chemists D 0 Hy,>Ituril Or