The electronic theory of transition metal systems pioneers a way of thinking in chemistry.
This chapter is intended to introduce the reader to the objectives and main purpose of the book, to define the subject and the methods of its exploration, and to determine its "ecological niche" in the rapid development of science and increasing demands for generalized information.
After a brief discussion of the main objectives and the role and place of this book among others available (Section 1.1), the definitions of chemical bonding and coordination systems are given (Section 1.2), followed by a very brief outline of the main ideas of quantum chemistry, mostly definitions employed in the subsequent presentation (Section 1.3).
1.1. OBJECTIVES Molecular Engineering and Intuitive Guesswork
The beginning of the twenty-first century (even the next millennium of human civilization) inclines us to sum up the achievements in the past century and to relate our intentions to what is expected in the coming new age. In the twentieth century the theory of structure and properties of transition metal coordination compounds, as well as polyatomic systems in general, advanced tremendously Electronic Structure and Properties of Transition Metal Compounds: Introduction to the Theory, Second Edition By Isaac B. Bersuker