Inorganic chemistry is one of the cornerstones of the central science.  For many is the most fun, but it covers an extremely wide range of topics.  For this reason, you need to make sure to find the best inorganic chemistry textbook for learning efficiently! 

We have recently reviewed a selection of the best organic chemistry textbooks.  Shortly after, we started to receive emails asking for similar recommendations, but directed towards inorganic chemistry.  There’s a slight big difference between inorganic and inorganic chemistry, so different approaches are often employed to teach learn each one of the two. 

So we decided to go back to the library a check the best texts for this fascinating and diverse subject.  This resulted on a nice and concise review guide of 6 books which we believe are the best for learning inorganic chem. 

This reference guide is aimed at education professionals that are looking for a textbook to base their inorganic chemistry syllabus on.  But also to all inorganic chem students that do not have a defined textbook on their courses, or want a better one to fully understand the topics on their class. 

As always, we start off by cutting right to the chase and present what we believe is the best inorganic chemistry textbook, overall. 

What Is the Best Inorganic Chemistry Textbook? 

From our point of view, Inorganic Chemistry by C. Housecroft and A. Sharpe is the most recommended textbook for inorganic chemistry.  It approaches many areas of this wide subject in a very methodical and logical fashion. 

Housecroft Inorganic Chemistry

It is the best book we have put our hands into so far. 

This text is very detailed, even in the more specialized chapters.  If you buy it, it will probably be the only introductory textbook that you will ever need for any inorganic chemistry university course. 

Quick Summary Table of the Best Inorganic Chemistry Textbooks

Here we have condensed the six reviews included on this guide in a reference table.  You can take a quick glance at the best features of each option, or continue reading for the complete reviews! 

1.  Housecroft Inorganic Chemistry

Our number one choice is Inorganic Chemistry by Catherine Housecroft and Alan G. Sharpe.  It is the text I used though my undergraduate courses years ago.  And it is the first choice for many educators I know. 

Housecroft Inorganic Chemistry

Housecroft is greatly organized, and the explanations are easy to understand.  But this does not sacrifice level of detail.  Most topics are explored deeply. 

Many questions and problems are provided in order to help you grasp all the concepts on each chapter.  The book has review sections which work greatly for this purpose. 

This best inorganic chemistry textbook is filled with beautiful and attractive schemes, pictures and images.  Most inorganic chemistry textbooks don’t really have illustrations as powerful and instructive as Housecroft’s. 

This textbook is right now on its 5th edition, released in 2018, so its 1300 pages are full of updated content. 

It is also worth highlighting how real-life or interdisciplinary applications of pure and basic inorganic chemistry concepts are described throughout the book. 

Overall, in our opinion, Housecroft’s is the most complete inorganic chemistry textbook.  It is wide, but also deep enough so you will be able to push through any introductory inorganic chemistry course with it. 

2.  Miessler Inorganic Chemistry

Inorganic chemistry by Miessler and Tarr is another pretty standard option.  The last edition brings colored images and diagrams which make the textbook much easier to follow. 

Miessler Inorganic Chemistry

This book is very accesible, and describes concepts very visually.  It even goes into some computational chemistry.  This is generally an advantage, but there is people that, for this reason, find some of the concepts difficult to grasp without a solid basic knowledge on physical chemistry. 

For both professors and students, Miessler’s is one of the best options if you want teach or take medium to advanced inorganic chemistry courses.  It finds interesctions between physical and organic chemistry, which is good. 

As a drawback, it lacks a bit on the problems and exercises department.  You will need the corresponding solutions manual, which fortunately is not that expensive.  You can find it here. 

3.  Cotton-Wilkinson Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry is probably the best and most complete reference inorganic chem textbook out there. 

We wouldn’t choose it as the best option for basing an introductory inorganic chemistry course on, but it is difficult to beat for anything above that.  It is a classic masterpiece, written by F. Albert Cotton and the Nobel laureate Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson. 

Cotton-Wilkinson Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

If you are either a professional or somebody looking forward to develop a career on inorganic or organometallic chemistry, this textbook should be in your shelf.  On the other hand, if you are a student which enjoys inorganic chemistry a lot, and you already have covered the basics of chemistry in class, this book might be your perfect choice.  If you want something for self-study or reference, or as a suplement, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry by Cotton and Wilkinson will do the job. 

I’m actually an organic chemist and this reference book has been right next to me on my room for a lot of years.  It is a great text for both inorganic and organometallic chemistry students (or professionals) alike. 

In contrast with other typical textbooks, Cotton-Wilkinson’s Advanced Inorganic Chemistry is organized by elements, describing all the typical compounds for each element, going through bonding and reactivity.  This arrangement makes it the absolute best book for just picking it up and starting to get into the inorganic chemistry of one element you are particularly interested in.  It has plenty of relevant references to go through and expand your knowledge. 

Some describe this book as more like a dictionary or reference guide than a textbook, that’s why using it for introductory courses might not be the best choice.  But for reference and self-study, it is the best inorganic chemistry book out there. 

4.  Weller Inorganic Chemistry (Former Atkins)

Over the years, one of the golden reference textbooks was Inorganic Chemistry by Shriver, Atkins and co-workers.  Atkins is no longer updating his book, but his co-workers, Mark Weller, Tina Overton and Jonathan Rourke, took over with this Inorganic Chemistry textbook. 

This is the last edition of one of the best inorganic chemistry texbooks out there.  Together with Housecroft’s, make up probably the top 2 best textbooks for introductory inorganic chemistry courses. 

Weller Inorganic Chemistry

This inorganic chemistry textbook goes generally into more detail than Housecroft’s, but it is generally not as easy to read, especially if you are just getting started. 

For chapters such as the ones for the crystal/ligand field theory (the base for coordination chemistry), it is great and very detailed.  If you are approaching organometallic chemistry, this text may be the way to go.  Another advantage is that it seems to be cheaper than the original Atkins used to be.  Also, it was updated in 2018. 

Overall, if you want something that goes into a bit more of detail than Housecroft (although covering a less broad amount of material, and with less examples), or if for some reason you don’t like that text, Weller’s Inorganic Chemistry is probably your best bet. 

5.  Lee Concise Inorganic Chemistry

As you can probably tell from its name, Lee’s Concise Inorganic Chemistry is a textbook that goes right to the point.  It does not contain things that the author may consider to be not relevant.  This can be good, but it also means that you might find that it lacks examples in some cases. 

Lee Concise Inorganic Chemistry

It may be a “concise” textbook, but by no means it is short in content.  Throughout its 1000 pages, Concise Inorganic Chemistry is one of the best introductions to the subject there is.  I’ve known people that have used it from preparing AP chemistry exams, or SAT chemistry subject tests, to getting through university courses. 

As most inorganic chemistry texts, it starts describing the different bonds and trends on the elements of the preiodic table.  Then it quickly jumps into describing groups of elements.  You won’t find many discussions such as “why is this element important” or “what are the every day uses of this kind of compounds”, instead, Lee focuses on properties, structure and bonding. 

However, don’t think that this book would be too boring because of this.  It is actually one of the most enjoyable inorganic chemistry textbooks to read.  There is a great balance between theory and applications.  And it is definitely one of the best choices if you just want to prepare for an inorganic chemistry course. 

6.  Chemistry: A Molecular Approach

First of all, Chemistry: A Molecular Approach is a general chemistry textbook, not an inorganic chemistry one. 

So what’s it doing on this review? 

Well, in contrast to the other areas of chemistry (which usually need a more specialized text, even at introductory levels), the content of introductory inorganic chemistry courses usually overlaps with what you can find in most general chemistry textbooks. 

This is because most introductions to inorganic chemistry are strongly based and centered around the different concepts of chemical bonding.  And this is amazingly well explained in general chemistry textbooks.  Specifically, Chemistry: A Molecular Approach by Nivaldo J. Tro does an excellent job on this sense. 

Chemistry: A Molecular Approach

If you are just getting into inorganic chemistry, you can perfectly stick to this textbook. 

It covers, from the very beginning, all basic concepts of chemical bonding.  From the Lewis model to a latter chapter on transition metals and coordination compounds. 

However, it is a general chemistry text, after all.  If you move deeper into any field within inorganic chemistry, you will probably run out of content pretty soon. 

If you want more information about general chemistry textbooks, check out our review post to look for the best one for you! 

Overall, this a perfect choice if you are just getting started with inorganic chemistry, and you want a book that can be versatile: you will be able to use it in many other introductory chemistry courses!  You need a base to study any field of chemistry.  Chemistry: A Molecular Approach does a great job on providing this base, particularly for inorganic chemistry. 

Final Thoughts and Summary

To sum up, if you are in doubt, go for Housecroft Inorganic Chemistry.  Overall, it is the best option.  It will fit any inorganic chemistry course that you want to teach or take. 

If you are going to take or teach an advanced inorganic chemistry course, or you want a book that can serve as reference for future courses, or in your chemistry career, go for Advanced Organic Chemistry by Cotton and Wilkinson. 

Finally, if you are just taking basic inorganic chemistry courses, and you are just getting started in chemistry, a general chemistry text will be the best fit.  It will also be useful for introductory courses on other branches of chemistry.  Our best recommendation for this case is Chemistry: A Molecular Approach. 

You can take a quick glance or purchase the best option for your needs through the following table:

If you want further information or educational resources, make sure to check our guide to learn chemistry. 

Enjoy learning inorganic chemistry!