The subject matterofsolid state chemistry lies within the spheres ofboth physical and inorganic chemistry. In addition, there is a large overlap with solid state physics and materials engineering. However, solid state chemistry has still to be recognized by the general body ofchemists as a legitimate subfield ofchemistry. The discipline is not even well defined as to content and has many facets that make writing a textbook a formidable task. The early studies carried out in the United States by Roland Ward and his co workers emphasized the synthesisofnew materials and the determination...