The History of Inorganic Chemistry

Even before alchemy became a subject of study, many chemical reactions were used and the products applied to daily life. For example, the first metals used were probably gold and copper, which can be found in the metallic state. Copper can also be readily formed by the reduction of malachite—basic copper carbonate, Cu2(C03)(0H)2—in charcoal fires. Silver, tin, antimony, and lead were also known as early as 3000 BC. Iron appeared in classical Greece and in other areas around the Mediterranean Sea by 1500 BC. At about the same time, colored glasses and ceramic glazes, largely composed of silicon dioxide (Si02, the major component of sand) and other metallic oxides, which had been melted and allowed to cool to amorphous solids, were introduced. 

The chemical industry, which had been in existence since very early times in the form of factories for the purification of salts and the smelting and refining of metals, expanded as methods for the preparation of relatively pure materials became more common. In 1896, Becquerel discovered radioactivity, and another area of study was opened. Studies of subatomic particles, spectra, and electricity finally led to the atomic theory of Bohr in 1913, which was soon modified by the quantum mechanics of Schrodinger and Heisenberg in 1926 and 1927. 

FIGURE MO Mendeleev s 1869 Periodic Table. Two years later, he revised his table into a form similar to a modem short-form periodic table, with eight groups across. 

Inorganic chemistry as a field of study was extremely important during the early years of the exploration and development of mineral resources. Qualitative analysis methods were developed to help identify minerals and, combined with quantitative methods, to assess their purity and value. As the industrial revolution progressed, so did the chemical industry. By the early 20th century, plants for the production of ammonia, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, and many other inorganic chemicals produced on a large scale were common. 

In 1955, Ziegler and associates and Natta discovered organometallic compounds that could catalyze the polymerization of ethylene at lower temperatures and 

Inorganic chemistry as a field of study was extremely important during the early years of the exploration and development of mineral resources. Qualitative analysis methods were 

In 1955, Ziegler and Natta discovered organometallic compounds that could catalyze the polymerization of ethylene at lower temperatures and pressures than the common industrial method at that time. In addition, the polyethylene formed was more likely to be made up of linear, rather than branched, molecules and, as a consequence, was stronger and more durable. Other catalysts were soon developed, and their study contributed to the rapid expansion of organometallic chemistry, still a rapidly growing area. 

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The basic ideas concerning the structure and geometry of complex ions presented in this chapter were developed by one of the most gifted individuals in the history of inorganic chemistry,... 

G. Flink stated that gadolinite "perhaps played a greater role in the history of inorganic chemistry than any other mineral and that it is mainly found only at two Scandinavian localities, namely Ytterby near Vaxholm and Hittero near Flekkefjord in Norway. Other Scandinavian localities for it are of little importance, and in other countries it is found only as a rarity (77). 

Literally thousands of papers have been written describing the photochemical and photophysical properties of [Ru(bpy)3] + over the past several decades, making it one of the most widely studied compounds in the history of inorganic chemistry. The compound exhibits a rich electronic spectrum, with several high-energy n n ligand-centered transitions in the near-UV, weak LF absorptions around 400 nm, and a series of intense MLCT bands around 450 nm. Excitation of the MLCT bands leads... 

The first question we might ask is What is organic chemistry, and how did it become a separate branch of chemistry A brief survey of the history of organic chemistry will help us understand how the division of chemicals into organic and inorganic originated and why this division persists today. 

The oxidation number of a central atom in a coordination entity is defined as the charge it would bear if all of the ligands were removed along with the electron pairs that were shared with the central atom. It is represented by a roman numeral." its influence in the domain of "inorganic chemistry" is pervasive. Consequently, it is desirable to examine the history of that process called "oxidation-reduction". 

A symposium co-sponsored by the Division of Inorganic Chemistry and the Division of the History of Chemistry at the 152nd Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New York,... 

Bismuth in human history dates back about two millennia when it was used as an additive to ancient metal products. However, its identity as a distinct metal element was only established by the middle of the eighteenth century. In marked contrast to the history of inorganic bismuth chemistry which started more than two centuries ago, the chemistry of organic bismuth compounds was born only two decades ago, when Professor D.H.R. Barton and coworkers began a systematic study of organobismuth compounds and laid the foundation for further development. 

The remainder of this chapter is devoted to a short history of the origins of inorganic chemistry and perspective on more recent developments, intended to provide a sense of connection to the past and to place some aspects of inorganic chemistry within the context of larger historical events. In later chapters, brief historical context is provided with the same intention. 

This volume contains 37 chapters 28 were presented at the symposium on which this book is based 9 are additional chapters. It includes biographical chapters and those dealing with the history of coordination chemistry as a whole and the history of various aspects of the field as well as reviews, research of more than ordinary interest, and chapters about the apphcations of coordination compounck. Therefore this book should be useful to historians of chemistry and of science, practicing chemists, students, and anyone concerned with the past, present, and future of one of the most intriguing and productive areas of chemistry. Eleven of the experimental research papers firom the symposium appeared in a special Coordination Chemistty Centermial Symposium issue of Polyhedron The International Journal for Inorganic and OrganometaUic Chemistry (Volume 13, Number 13, July 1994, for which I was the guest editor). 

The brief history of inorganic chemistry brought up to date... 

The British chemist John Davy synthesized urea first in 1812. As Davy was unaware of his success [14], the first urea synthesis is usually credited to the German chemist Friedrich Wohler [13]. In 1828, Wohler discovered that urea can be produced from ammonia and cyanic acid, which proved that organic components can be prepared from inorganic substances. Thus, Wohler s discovery represents one of the most important steps in the history of organic chemistry. 

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