Horwood Publishing: Westergate, West Sussex, UK, 1999. 222 pp. ISBN 1-898563-50-0. $39.95 clothbound.

Ions in Solution is a concise introduction to the behavior and properties of cations and anions in predominately aqueous solutions. After an introductory chapter on the dissolution of salts and the practical production of cations and anions in solution, the remainder of the text can be divided into three sections: solvation, thermodynamics, and kinetics of inorganic solution systems. The text concludes with an extensive bibliography of the current literature and an eclectic mix of problems and exercises ranging from K_sp calculations and inorganic synthesis to half-life calculations.

Chapters 2 and 3, on solvation, outline current experimental methods employed to determine solvation numbers (e.g. NMR) and solvent distances (e.g. X-ray diffraction) for cations and anions. Chapters 4-7 present an overview of thermodynamic topics including spectroscopic investigations of ion-solvent interactions, acid-base behavior including polymerization, stability constants of complexes, complexes with macrocyclic and encapsulating ligands, and redox. Chapter 8 serves as a bridge between the thermodynamic and kinetic considerations. Chapters 9-12 cover kinetic and mechanistic aspects of inorganic solution chemistry such as rates of solvent exchange, complex formation including chelates, substitution reactions, and mechanisms for redox.

The book contains a wealth of data and examples in both tabular and graphical formats. The author does a very good job pointing out and discussing the subtle and practical considerations that must be taken into account when investigating ions in solution. A limited amount of theoretical and background information is presented. Any explanations given in the narrative are brief and to the point. There are no wasted words here. The author obviously assumes his audience has a solid fundamental knowledge of both inorganic and physical chemistry. To compensate for the limited theoretical and background information, he has included in the bibliography several excellent references containing treatments of the omitted material.

Overall my impression of the text is that it could be used as a supplement for a graduate-level or advanced senior-level course in inorganic chemistry. It is more likely to find its way onto the shelves of faculty needing a very good reference on inorganic solution chemistry.