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Recent Advances in Inorganic Chemistry Introduction Inorganic chemistry stands as one of the oldest of the divisions of chemistry, yet it has not always received the veneration and respect which its age might suggest. Except for the classical work of Mendeleff and Alfred Werner, theories and correlative schemes for handling the data from inorganic systems have developed slowly. At one period the subject was accused of being empirical and less stimulating than its sister areas. Fortunat,ely, however, during the past 30 years a number of far reaching theoretical advances have done much to correlate large areas of inorganic chemistry and to convert it into one of the most stimulating of all research areas. Coupled with the theoretical advances have been great advances in the experimental aspects of the subject. Classical experimental problems have been solved. The rare earths can be separated with relatively little human effort, zirconium and hafnium can be separated, the boron hydrides can be synthesized in tonnage lots, fluorine can be handled in large quantities, and certain of the elements can be prepared in a state of purity undreamed of 60 years ago. Even the alchemists' dream, the transmutation of elements, has been realized and new elements can be prepared. Each of these developments has, in turn, spurred further advances in t,he subarea concerned. Because of these rapid advances, the educational literature cannot keep up with developments in the field and many stimulating new ideas are buried in the technical journals before they can be incorporated into the college curriculum. To render less probable such an unfortunate development, the Division of Chemical Education and the Division of Inorganic Chemistry of the ACS sponsored a joint Symposium in Cleveland during the April 1960 meeting entitled, "Recent Advances in Inorganic Chemistry." The papers, presented by distinguished chemists, were aimed at college teachers of inorganic chemistry. The large audiences a t all sessions indicated a very general interest, both academic and industrial, in the areas covered. The symposium started with a review by William
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Lipscomb of theoretical developments associated with the so-called "Electron Deficient Molecules." Since this topic has been the subject of a number of recent papers by Dr. Lipscomb, the work is not published here. A discussion of "Ligand Field Theory" by Ralph Pearson and a paper on the "Mechanism of Oxidation-Reduction Reactions" by Fred Duke completed the more theoretical introduction. The borderline areas lying between organic and inorganic chemistry were covered by: F. Albert Cotton, "Organo Metallic Compounds"; H. C. Brown, "New Selective Reducing Agents"; and Charles B. Colburn, "Recent Developments in N-F Chemistry." Only the last two papers of this group are published here; the first topic has been treated elsewhere. In the third and final session emphasis was directed toward the inner transition elements. The first paper, by Therald Mmller, was "The Rare EarthsSolved and Unsolved Problems"; the second, by Albert Ghiorso, was "Modern Techniques in New Element Research"; and the third, by Otto Forchheimer and Terry F. Newkirk, was "Recent Advances in Solid State Inorganic Materials." Only the last paper of this trio is presented here. Certainly the exciting aspects of inorganic chemistry, which were so capably reviewed by the symposium participants, will lead to an even greater development of this, the oldest branch of chemistry. R. W. Parry, Chairman of the Symposium EDITOR'SNOTE: The annual indexes of THIS JOURNAL UBUBU~ have a long list of entries under Inwganic Chemistly. Many of these papers are appropriate to the "Recent Advances . . !' theme. Readers' attention is called to the following from recent years: Symposia: "Instruction in Inorganic Chemistry," 36,441468, 502-518 (1959); "New Elements," 36, 2 4 4 (1959); and "Inorganic Nitrogen Compounds," 34, 537-561 (1957). Re&s: "Inorganic Polymers," 37, 2, 86, 134 (1960); "Sp* cies in Aqueous Solution," 33,152,223,282 (1956); "Ferrocene," 34, 268 (1957); "Cyclopentadienyl Compounds," 37,568 (1960); and "Ligand Field Theory," 37, 498 (1960).
