NOMENCLATURE
WOMBS ABOUT WORDS AUSTIN M. PATTERSON* Too M a n y Chemistries? Nathaniel T h o n of Princeton University writes as follows: " T h e r e is a profusion of 'chemistries,' c o m p o u n d e d , hyphenated, o r qualified by adjectives formed from names o f other branches ©f science. 'Chemistry b-eing t h e noun, terms such as biological chemistry and mineralogical chemistry-, imply t h a t these a r e definite brandies of chemistry and that t h e chemistry \vhic£î governs t h e chemical behavior of organisms is different from t h e chemistry which operates in minerals, or in fuels, or in foods. As far as organisms go, this once lield d o c t r i n e has been notoriously e x p l o d e d by Wohler's classic synthesis of urea outside the organism. There is but o>ne chemistry, and t h e r e is n o particular biological chemistry. T h e r e is, on the o t h e r Hand, a chemical approach to biology, a s t u d y ot t h e chemical side of biological b e h a v i o r . It is directed not towards solving p r o b l e m s of chemistry through biology^ but o f problems of biology t h r o u g h chemistry. Therefore, n o u n a n d adjective o u g h t t o be reversed, a n d t h e b r a n c h referxed t o should be t e r m e d correctly, chemical biology.
The same applies to 'chemical mineralogy/ "Over the last 2 5 years or so, a fashion has grown to differentiate between lowly physical chemistry and the nobler and superior 'chemical p h y s i c s / T h e latter t e n n suggests a branch of physics wherein problems of physics are solved with the aid of knowledge of chemistry. Actually, it is the other way around: t h e project is still chemistry, a n d only t h e tools are physical. W h a t actually 'differentiates' physical chemistry from t h e so-called chemical physics published under a blueblooded cover is t h a t t h e latter uses relatively more recent developments in physics. That's all; and, if so, t h e criterion is much too flimsy and ephemeral to constitute a basis for a logical differentiation. W h a t counts is that, in 'chemical physics* as in physical chemistry, physics only provides t h e tools for purposes of chemistry. T h u s , there is but one physical chemistry. Chemistry does not contribute to physics, which is anterior to it in t h e structure of science, m u c h as mathematics, b e i n g anterior to physics, does not draw on physics, whereas physics does draw on mathematics: there is a
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mathematical physics, but there is no physical mathematics. Similarly, it is biology w h i c h learns from a n d uses tools of chemistry. T h e corresponding discipline is not 'biological chemistry' or 'biochemistry,* but chemical biology." W h a t d o our readers think; do w e h a v e too m a n y "chemistries"? In inviting opinions o n Dr. Thon's point of view I have only one comment, which has nothing to do with the logic of t h e question, it is the remark of an envious biologist, who attributed the marvelous growth of the
A M E R I C A N C H E M I C A L S O C I E T Y to
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tact that everything w e touch w e call "chemistry," whether biological, physical, mineralogical, pharmaceutical, or other, "while biology," he said, "is all divided up into branches with different names. No wonder w e can't get together."
Cations in Double Salts According to a revised draft of rules of inorganic nomenclature, based on discussions of t h e Commission on Inorganic Nomenclature in N e w York in 1951, the order of cations in the names of double salts will b e as follows: ( 1 ) Cations shall be arranged in order of increasing valency. ( 2 ) T h e cations of any one valency group shall be placed in order of increasing atomic number, with polyatomic radical ions, e.g. ammonium, at the end of their relevant valency group. ( 3 ) If it is necessary to draw attention specifically to the existence of a hydrated cation, this may be d o n e by writing, for example, hexaqua- or tetraqua- before the name of the simple ion. ( 4 ) W h e n acidic hydrogen is present, in English this should b e cited as " h y d r o g e n " immçdiately before t h e anions. E x a m p l e s : KMgF a , potassium magnesium fluoride; NaTl( N 0 3 ) 2 , sodium thall i u m ( I ) n i t r a t e or sodium thallium dinitrate; N a K C O a , sodium potassium carbonate; N r h M g P O * , ammonium magneMiim phosphate; N a 2 ( N H 0 2 ( P 2 O e ) 7 H 2 O , disodinm diammonium hypophosphate heptahydrate; NaZn ( UO* ) 3 ( CsHaOa ) e 6 H 2 0 , sodi um zinc triuranv! acetate hexahydrate; NaZn( H 2 0 ) e ( U 0 2 ) 3 ( C 2 H 3 0 2 ) e , sodium hexaquazinc triuranyl acetate; and XaH-PCX, sodium dihydrogen phosphate. Comments on these names m a y b e addressed to this column or to t h e Commission secretary, G. H . Cheesman, T h e University, Reading, E n g l a n d .
Steroid Report Available T h e National Research Council Committee on the Nomenclature of Steroids, of which Byron Riegel is chairman, has prepared a revised report. I t is based on the so-called Ciba report of 1950 (Chemisiry and Industry, June 2 3 , 1951, SN 1-11 ) b u t contains several changes. Copies of t h e revised report h a v e b e e n made available at cost ( 50 cents ) through the courtesy of the Chemical Abstracts office, w h i c h will mail t h e m post-free. All who are interested in t h e names of steroids a r e urged to study this latest report. ° 221 North King St., Xenia, Ohio.
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