This primer addresses the chemistry of the second and third row d-block metals and assumes a knowledge of the chemistry of the first row metals. Beginning with a summary of basic properties, the book covers periodic trends, aqueous solution chemistry and redox properties, the range of coordination numbers shown by second and third row metals, electronic spectra and magnetic properties, metal-metal bonding, triple and quadruple bonds, bridging ligands, pi donar ligands in which metal-metal bonding is important, and polyoxometallates. The volume also contains a detailed guide for further reading and a section called "Metals in Action" which lists references for applications of d-block metals in such devices as catalytic converters and molecular wires.