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This special issue of Ambix is an outgrowth of the Tenth Annual Postgraduate Workshop titled "Society and the Creation of (al)Chemical Knowledge" hosted by the Embassy of the Free Mind in Amsterdam, 29–30 November 2019. This meeting of early career scholars with a shared interest in the history of alchemy and chemistry illustrated the diversity of methodological approaches that contribute to this subfield. Alchemical knowledge, created through practice, language, and material culture, has permeated society since the ancient world. Adepts and laity alike learned to navigate and appropriate the seemingly paradoxical hermetic language and images of alchemy, applying them to an array of societal needs that span time and place. The editorial essay to this special issue of Ambix considers alchemical knowledge-creation through the social lens of language and practice and proposes the inclusive concept of the "Chemical Humanities" to address variations within alchemical practice and the diverse scholarly research methodologies presented in this special issue. We examine the history of chemistry using approaches from the humanities, arts, and sciences and consider the effects of interdisciplinary research today and for the future of alchemical scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on history of McGill University. Topics include scientific interests showing the use of nuclear methods determining the age and place of origin of archaeological artifacts; and national and international awards based upon the research efforts received by faculty members and the research students.

It is appropriate to recall that 2019 was the year dedicated to the Periodic Table. But when we speak about false elements – in the aftermath of the celebrations marking this year, – we are greeted most warmly, but with some puzzlement, as to how it came to mind to celebrate “Mendeleev’s creature” in such a peculiar way, that is, by commemorating elements that never existed. In the course of many years, we have discovered and collected a great number of discoveries of simple bodies that sooner or later turned out to be detours or false tracks.

Some 70 years ago, the reaction of diacetyl (1) and arylamines (2) in hot phosphoric acid was reported to give a new type of condensation products, but no structure was assigned to them. The case is presented to recapitulate the methods and rationales used in classical structure elucidation of organic molecules through reaction networks, before spectroscopic or crystallographic methods were generally available. The difficulties and limits of the classical approach are exemplified through this real-life problem, which could not be solved by the methodology of its time. A representative condensation product 4a has been resynthesized from 1 and p-toluidine (2a), and its structure elucidation by means of 2D NMR techniques is outlined.

The Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry is accepting applications for its Award Scheme for 2024. The scheme offers support for research into the history of chemistry or history of alchemy, as well as support for subject development in these areas. Research awards are open to post-graduate students, those who have obtained a PhD since 2014, and independent scholars. Awards of up to £1000 can be used for research expenses, while subject development awards can be used for activities such as seminars, conferences, and exhibitions. The awards are open to members of the Society from both the UK and other countries. [Extracted from the article]

"The Arctic Journal of Captain Henry Wemyss Feilden, R. A., The Naturalist in H. M. S. 'Alert', 1875–1876" is a book review of T. H. Levere's edition of Feilden's journal. The book focuses on Feilden's experiences as a naturalist aboard HMS Alert during the British Arctic Expedition led by George Strong Nares. The review highlights Feilden's geological observations and his meticulous documentation of shipboard life. It also mentions Feilden's prior military service and the editor's thorough work in editing and contextualizing the journal. [Extracted from the article]

Cyanide is the simplest ligand with strong basicity to construct open frameworks including some of the oldest compounds reported in the history of coordination chemistry. Cyanide can form numerous cyanometallates with different transition metal ions showing diverse geometries. Rational design of robust extended networks is enabled by the strong bonding nature and high directionality of cyanide ligand. By virtue of a combination of cyanometallates and/or organic linkers, multifunctional framework materials can be targeted and readily synthesized for various applications, ranging from molecular adsorptions/separations to energy conversion and storage, and spin‐crossover materials. External guest‐ and stimuli‐responsive behaviors in cyanide‐based materials are also highlighted for the development of the next‐generation smart materials. In this review, an overview of the recent progress of cyanide‐based multifunctional materials is presented to demonstrate the great potential of cyanide ligands in the development of modern coordination chemistry and material science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edgar Fahs Smith (1854-1928) was one of the great American chemists. He has done a lot of experimental studies. He carried out researches in the fields of organic, inorganic, and analytical chemistry, elektrochemistry and mineralogy. He developed the rotating anode. He wrote many works in the field of history of American chemistry. The purpose of this paper is to familiarize readers with the important events in the life of Smith. In addition, his participation in the preparation of the first visit of Marie Curie (1867-1934) to the USA in 1921 is described and literature on his selected articles and books is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ernst Julius Cohen (1869-1944) was an outstanding Dutch chemist and historian of chemistry of the second half of the XIX century and the first half of the XX century. He contributed to the fields of polymorphism, thermochemistry, electrochemistry and piezochemistry. He also studied physical isomerism. His experimental studies on allotropy has been published in a large number of publication. The purpose of this paper is to familiarize readers with the important events in the life of Cohen and his research activities, in particular with his selected publications as well as with his writing activities, in particular with his books. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sir Thomas Edward Thorpe (1845-1925) was one of the most prominent chemists of the second half of the 19th century. He studied phosphorus oxides and fluorine compounds. He is known for his works on the determination of the atomic weights of chemical elements and for his books on chemistry and the history of chemistry. The purpose of this paper is to familiarize readers with the important events in the life of Thorpe and his writing and research activities, in particular some of his experimental results, as well as his selected publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophus Mads Jørgensen (1837-1914) was one of the important chemists of the second half of the XIX century and the first decade of the XX century. He was one of the founders of the chemistry of complex compounds. He also made major contributions to the chemistry of platinum, cobalt, chromium and rhodium compounds. The purpose of this paper is to familiarize readers with the important events in the life of Jørgensen and his writing activities, in particular with his chemistry books. In addition, his research activities are briefly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous liquids (PLs), an emerging type of flowing liquid materials that combine the merits of porous solids and flowing liquids, have garnered immense attention since the concept of PLs was proposed in 2007. Meanwhile, PLs have witnessed growing success in versatile synthesis strategies and emerging applications, especially since 2017. Given the lack of a timely comprehensive review, developing a prompt summary with a comprehensive understanding is undoubtedly urgent. Thus, this critical review offers a comprehensive summary of the progress in fundamental chemistry, developmental history, synthetic strategies, and emerging applications of PLs. First, the fundamental chemistry and developmental history are reviewed. Then, the synthesis strategies of PLs are highlighted. Additionally, crosscutting studies of pure theoretical simulations are reviewed. Meanwhile, the daunting characterization issues of PLs are analyzed. Next, the state‐of‐the‐art of PLs applications is reviewed in detail. In the end, perspectives regarding the remaining challenges and future directions for PLs are presented. It is speculated that this critical comprehensive review of PLs could inspire scientific communities who focus on the task‐specific materials for various applications, such as gas sorption, membrane separation, catalytic conversion, chiral separation, thermal management and electrolyte, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nachrichten aus der Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Studia Historiae Scientiarum is the property of Jagiellonian University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The exploration of chemical periodicity over the past 250 years led to the development of the Periodic System of Elements and demonstrates the value of vague ideas that ignored early scientific anomalies and instead allowed for extended periods of normal science where new methodologies and concepts are developed. The basic chemical element provides this exploration with direction and explanation and has shown to be a central and historically adaptable concept for a theory of matter far from the reductionist frontier. This is explored in the histories of Prout's hypothesis, Döbereiner Triads, element inversions necessary when ordering chemical elements by atomic weights, and van den Broeck's ad-hoc proposal to switch to nuclear charges instead. The development of more accurate methods to determine atomic weights, Rayleigh and Ramsey's gas separation and analytical techniques, Moseley's X-ray spectroscopy to identify chemical elements, and more recent accelerator-based cold fusion methods to create new elements at the end of the Periodic Table point to the importance of methodological development complementing conceptual advances. I propose to frame the crossover from physics to chemistry not as a loss of accuracy and precision but as an increased application of vague concepts such as similarity which permit classification. This approach provides epistemic flexibility to adapt to scientific anomalies and the continued growth of chemical compound space and rejects the Procrustean philosophy of reductionist physics. Furthermore, it establishes chemistry with its explanatory and operational autonomy epitomized by the periodic system of elements as a gateway to other experimental sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searles Lake, California, was a saline-alkaline lake that deposited >25 non-clastic minerals that record the history of lake chemistry and regional climate. Here, the mineralogy and petrography from the late Pleistocene/Holocene (32-6 ka) portion of a new Searles Lake sediment core, SLAPP-SRLS17, is combined with thermodynamic models to determine the geochemical and paleoclimate conditions required to produce the observed mineral phases, sequences, and abundances. The models reveal that the primary precipitates formed by open system (i.e., fractional crystallization), whereas the early diagenetic salts formed by salinity-driven closed system back-reactions (i.e., equilibrium crystallization). For core SLAPP-SRLS17, the defining evaporite sequence trona → burkeite → halite indicates brine temperatures within a 20-29 °C range, implying thermally insulating lake depths >10 m during salt deposition. Evaporite phases reflect lake water pCO2 consistent with contemporaneous atmospheric values of -190-270 ppmv. However, anomalous layers of nahcolite and thenardite indicate pulses of pCO2 > 700-800 ppm, likely due to variable CO2 injection along faults. Core sedimentology indicates that Searles Lake was continuously perennial between 32 ka and 6 ka such that evaporite units reflect periods of net evaporation but never complete desiccation. Model simulations indicate that cycles of partial evaporation and dilution strongly influence long-term brine evolution by amassing certain species, particularly Cl-, that only occur in late-stage soluble salts. A model incorporating longterm brine dynamics corrects previous massbalance anomalies and shows that the late Pleistocene/Holocene (32-6 ka) salts are partially inherited from the solutes introduced into earlier lakes going back at least 150 ka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There isn't much time in chemistry classes to deal with additional topics. Especially, when it comes to biographies of famous scientists or even gender sensitive questions. However, it can be very worthwhile to work reflexively with the students on that issues. The following article proposes a way to integrate such topics in the lessons of secondary school. After a short theoretical part about gender issues in chemistry classes and a biographical summary of the lifes of Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier (1743–1789) and his wife Marie‐Anne Lavoisier (1758–1836), there will be some creative working steps to reflect (historic) gender roles. The designed working sheets are described in the article and are available as supporting information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present review on the evolution of Green Chemistry (GC), since its emergence until 2016 (25th anniversary), aimed an integrated vision of its progress along the three phases of its development: emergence, divulgation and consolidation. The methodology involved the analysis of a selection of bibliography on the evolution of GC collected from issues of the ACS symposia series; editorials in specialized GC journals; and commemorative birthday papers/editorials of these journals and of the GC itself. The analysis allowed to identify and discuss the characteristics and conceptions of GC agents about fundamental concepts and procedures, in order to visualize and better understand the state of knowledge and the subject areas that make up the field. The main alterations identified in the evolution of GC were: it acquired a better defined identity, with more participation of academy and increased scope; was progressively framed in sustainability; has been aspiring to a holistic frame (but it is still dominated by its original reductionism) and to a change on the nature of the innovation for its implementation, from incremental to transformative. The analysis suggests that for supporting expansion and consolidation of GC the following aspects deserve attention: full validation of chemical greenness by metrics; better characterization of the frontiers of GC research areas/themes; increased integration between academy and industry; and penetration in chemistry curricula. Its basic philosophy being the practice of a chemistry more focused on the environment preservation, GC means a new stage in nature and in the history of Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Cu‐catalyzed carbon‐carbon and carbon (sp2)‐nitrogen bond formation have attracted much attention. Nowadays, they are widely being applied to the total synthesis of an extensive assortment of natural products with complex structures. Natural products chemistry is a discrete part of chemical research, which has been significant in the history of chemistry, the sourcing of substances in early preclinical drug discovery research, pharmacology and discovery of folk medicine. Alkaloids are a class of natural product that contains at least one nitrogen atom. They have diverse and important physiological effects on humans and other animals. In fact, as many as one‐quarter of higher plants are estimated to contain alkaloids, of which several thousand (approximately 12000) different types have so far been identified. In this review, we try underscore the total synthesis of naturally occurring alkaloids in which Cu‐promoted reaction is at least one of the vital step. Indeed, in this comprehensive review, the impact of Cu‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions in the total synthesis of natural products with a prominence on the evolution of strategies due to copper catalysis will be generally surveyed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bent structure of the water molecule, and its hydrogen‐bonding properties, arguably rank among the most impactful discoveries in the history of chemistry. Although the fact that the H—O—H angle must deviate from linearity was inferred early in the 20th century, notably from the existence of the electric dipole moment, it was not clear what that angle should be and why. One hundred years ago, a young PhD student at the University of California, Berkeley, Eustace J. Cuy, rationalized the V‐shape structure of a water molecule using the Lewis theory of a chemical bond, i.e. a shared electron pair, and its tetrahedral stereochemistry. He was inspired, in part, by the proposal of a weak (hydrogen) bond in water by two colleagues at Berkeley, Wendell Latimer and Worth Rodebush, who published their classic paper a year earlier. Cuy went on to suggest that other molecules, notably H2S and NH3, have similar structures, and presciently predicted that this architecture has broader consequences for the structure of water as a liquid. This short, but brilliant paper has been completely forgotten, perhaps due to the tragic death of the author at the age of 28; the hydrogen‐bond study is also rarely recognized. One of the most impactful publications on the structure of liquid water, a classic treatise published in 1933 by John Bernal and Ralph Fowler, does not mention either of the two pioneering papers. In this essay, the background for the two discoveries is described, including the brief history of Lewis's research on the nature of the chemical bond, and the history of the discovery of the hydrogen bond, which inspired Cuy to look at the structure of the water molecule. This is – to the best of the author's knowledge – the first biographical sketch of Eustace J. Cuy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geber (Latinized name of Jabir ibn Hayyan (c. 721 – c. 815)) is among the most notable representatives of medieval chemistry. The article, dedicated to the 1300th anniversary of his birth, tries to depict his work as the beginning and groundwork for Arabic alchemy, also serving as a push for the formation of chemistry in the future. The article touches upon his life, characteristics, evaluation of his works, doubts about his identity and authorship. His influences are examined and his achievements in the area of metallurgy (sulfur-mercury theory, characterizing all known metals), knowledge of `secret` (stimulating the transmutation of metals) substances, mineral acids, salts, chemical processes and apparatus, his contributions to practical chemistry prove the broadness of his interests. His rational and practical approach is acknowledged and also his “outer” spiritualism present in the terminology inherited by the authors of Alexandria. The legacy he leaves – his authority, influence on the development of chemistry and followers – Arabic medical alchemists. In the conclusion his services to science and civilization are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

February 2021 marked the 160th anniversary of the birth of N.D. Zelinskii, who worked for more than 50 years at Moscow University and headed a large school of organic chemists. The present historical sketch of the life and scientific achievements of Nikolai Zelinskii highlights his contribution to the development of catalysis, petroleum chemistry, and hydrocarbon chemistry, as well as the wide range of his interests in the field of organic chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nachrichten aus der Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nachrichten aus der Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A separate short editorial by the organizers of that meeting will follow this general editorial and the remaining articles for this special issue will appear in the subsequent edition of the journal. The current issue is a mixture of varia articles and in addition the first half of the special issue of articles based on lectures delivered at the 25th meeting of the International Society for the Philosophy of Chemistry (ISPC). The third article concerns green chemistry which broadly speaking falls within the domain of the ethics of chemistry. [Extracted from the article]

Authors of the theoretical works reported various isomeric phenomena (conformational and configurational isomerism, and/or prototropic tautomerism) possible for acids and bases, and showed interesting relations between various types of isomerism and intramolecular interactions. Most organic molecules, including natural products, drugs, and toxicants, contain functional groups that display acid-base properties. 10.3390/sym13030497 5 Raczy'nska E.D., Gal J.-F., Maria P.-C., Saeidian H. Push-pull effect on the gas-phase basicity of nitriles: Transmission of the resonance effects by methylenecyclopropene and cyclopropenimine -systems substituted by two identical strong electron donors. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction. The didactic principle of education-in-studies is one of the most important instruments of quality education at all levels. Compliance with this principle enhances the results of methodological means educators choose. A positive example is considered a widely recognised and effective method of education and upbringing. As such examples, in education it is recommended to use personal and scientific biographies of scholars whose names became a part of scientific eponyms – terms meaning phenomena, laws, theories, inventions, etc. derived from the names of their originators. Eponyms are researched from the prospective of many sciences, including pedagogy. According to the principles of humanisation and historicism declared in governmental documents on education, eponyms can be utilised as means of upbringing while studying natural and other disciplines. However, the research data about this role of eponyms are scarce. In particular, it is unknown how students perceive this component of language and if there is a difference in perception between school and university students. This gap in methodology and teaching technique applies to a number of disciplines including chemistry.The aims of this research publication were to study attitudes of university students in two countries – Belarus and the USA – to chemical eponyms, and to identify correlations between their reflective cognition and solid knowledge of the future professionals.Methodology and research methods. A 27-item questionnaire with different types of answers was developed by the author of the present research. The questionnaire was administered via the Internet for the survey of students at University of Oregon and Belarusian State University. Analysis of the data collected was done in IBM® SPSS® package using descriptive (mean, standard deviation, variance) and inferential (Mann–Whitney and Pearson tests) statistics.Results and scientific novelty. The survey showed that students in both countries recognise chemical eponyms by association better than by their content. Belarusian respondents exhibited a bit higher level of eponym knowledge than American respondents, which is explained by populations (the former one had more chemistry majors), timing and duration of chemistry courses. Recognition of chemical eponyms differs; it is promoted by their repeatability, uniqueness, and phoneticity. The majority of students in both countries perceive eponyms non-reflexively, and the students’ attitude towards eponyms is mostly uncertain. It was found that the determinant factor for good knowledge and reflective positive attitude towards eponyms is the student’s motivation for learning. This motivation, in turn, is determined by the chosen major. Naturally, the profile majors “Chemistry” and “Chemistry Teaching” motivate students the most. It has been concluded that on the one hand, for implementation of the humanisation and historicism principles, one should not rely exclusively on eponyms. To avoid mistakes, one should keep a systemic approach that implies a set of pedagogical means and methods. On the other hand, systematic, regular work with chemical eponyms helps to get an in-depth understanding of chemical phenomena and to get the chemical theory-and-practice synthesis quick and balanced. Unfortunately, less and less attention is paid in educational literature to both eponyms and scholar personalities as their sources, and that is fundamentally wrong.Practical significance. The research materials and the results obtained in this research will be useful for teachers and instructors of chemistry in the development of lessons, lectures, seminars and laboratory classes as well as in writing tutorials and textbooks.

Thomas Edward Thorpe (1845-1925) was one of the most prominent chemists of the second half of the 19th century. He studied phosphorus oxides and fluorine compounds. He is known for his works on the determination of the atomic weights of chemical elements and for his books on chemistry and the history of chemistry. The purpose of this paper is to familiarize readers with the important events in the life of Thorpe and his writing and research activities, in particular some of his experimental results, as well as his selected publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are inherent difficulties in a subject like chemistry particularly the notion of a chemical reaction. In this paper the difficulties are discussed from a teaching and learning perspective and from a history of chemistry perspective. Three teaching/learning studies of the incompleteness of the iron(III) thiocyanate reaction in chemical equilibrium are reviewed and it is shown that a recent historical study of the iron(III) thiocyanate reaction has the potential to challenge the interpretation of the incompleteness of the reaction. This establishes a controversial context where students can be introduced to epistemic thinking, that is, how to interrogate chemistry data and form a conclusion which resonates with what we know about the nature of science. A curriculum suggestion for pre-service chemistry teachers is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of College of Education / Wasit is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Oxygen concentration defines the chemical structure of Earth’s ecosystems while it also fuels the metabolism of aerobic organisms. As different aerobes have different oxygen requirements, the evolution of oxygen levels through time has likely impacted both environmental chemistry and the history of life. Understanding the relationship between atmospheric oxygen levels, the chemical environment, and life, however, is hampered by uncertainties in the history of oxygen levels. We report over 5,700 Raman analyses of organic matter from nine geological formations spanning in time from 742 to 1,729 Ma. We find that organic matter was effectively oxidized during weathering and little was recycled into marine sediments. Indeed, during this time interval, organic matter was as efficiently oxidized during weathering as it is now. From these observations, we constrain minimum atmospheric oxygen levels to between 2 to 24% of present levels from the late Paleoproterozoic Era into the Neoproterozoic Era. Indeed, our results reveal that eukaryote evolution, including early animal evolution, was not likely hindered by oxygen through this time interval. Our results also show that due to efficient organic recycling during weathering, carbon cycle dynamics can be assessed directly from the sediment carbon record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to provide an historical perspective on a review of "Heat production and chemical change in muscle" written by Roger C. Woledge and published in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology 50 years ago. We first provide a brief but broad summary of the history of muscle chemistry prior to 1971 and then address the central theme of the 1971 review - that of energy balance. Energy balance is a method to establish whether all the energetically significant biochemical reactions accompanying muscle contraction have been identified. Woledge adopted the method to compare the measured enthalpy output (i.e., the sum of the heat output and work output) to that expected from the extent of known biochemical reactions. Prior work had suggested that the observed and expected enthalpy outputs were similar but Woledge proposed that the expected heat had been overestimated and that, hence, there must be an unidentified reaction that accounted for as much as half the heat produced by a contracting muscle. We describe investigations carried out after the review that vindicated that view, ultimately characterising the processes producing the unexplained enthalpy which, in turn, led to identification of the hitherto unknown reaction. Those experiments and a more recent resurrection of the approach using fluorescent probes to monitor ATP turnover have now accounted for the processes that underlie the complex time courses of muscle heat production and ATP turnover during contraction, at least in the classical frog sartorius muscle preparation. However, the few studies performed on mammalian muscles since then have produced results that are difficult to reconcile with the ideas derived from energy balance studies of amphibian and fish muscles, thereby suggesting a new objective for energy balance studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title of this article refers to exploring both the history of chemistry in Japan and the history of Japanese chemistry. The article deals with both because they are not completely separate entities. Beginning with a historical overview of the community of chemical historians in Japan, the article discusses the roles of chemist-historians and professional historians of science in the development of a community centred around the Japanese Society for the History of Chemistry (Kagakushi Gakkai, hereinafter JSHC). My own experience as a historian of science is mentioned when appropriate. The final part of the article illuminates some issues concerning the early history of modern Japanese chemistry, showing how it developed from interactions of modern chemistry and local practices to become its own innovative field. In doing so, I draw attention to the significance of the study of local histories of chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two basic understandings of relative atomic mass. The first (“atomic weight”) stems from the law of constant and multiple mass proportions and has no reference to the size and the absolute mass of atoms. “Atomic weights” were defined and measured in the 19th Century, and at that time atoms and molecules were just hypothetical particles. However, in the 20th Century, it became possible to measure the number and mass of atoms, and relative atomic mass was defined in reference to the mass and number of atoms, i.e. Avogadro constant and mole. This also resulted in the change of reference unit, Ar(H) = 1 or Ar(O) = 16, for Ar(12C) = 12, and the way of teaching of stoichiometry (calculations via nA instead of using proportionality principle). This article also describes the history of “atomic weight” determination by gravimetric analysis, especially the work of J. J. Berzelius and J. S. Stas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permanganyl fluoride's existence at the stability threshold in the series of oxides and oxide fluorides of the late 3d transition metals is reflected by its experimentally challenging properties and by the difficulties posed in the theoretical description of its bonding characteristics. The history of this molecule is reviewed from early qualitative observations and the growing scattered information on its chemical and physical properties to the accurate determination and interpretation of its molecular structure and spectral features. The still problematic theoretical models for MnO4- and MnO3F are briefly presented in the broader context of the chemistry of elements in high oxidation states. Short biographies of the scientists engaged in these studies are offered. Related technetium and rhenium compounds are briefly considered for comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examples from different research areas of Siegfried Hünig are displayed to remind us that organic chemistry owes much more than Hünig's base to this exceptionally versatile and creative chemist. The main research lines dealing with the synthesis and physical characterization of new dyes, multistage redox systems, and organic metals will be presented as well as his contributions to enamine chemistry, the discovery of diimine as a hydrogenation agent, and nucleophilic acylation with trimethylsilyl cyanide, which are less well‐known nowadays. In addition, exotic compounds with parallel C=C and N=N bonds were systematically studied in Hünig's group. Reflecting on the development of his research demonstrates both the importance of a systematic approach and how fruitful entirely unexpected results are if they meet a "well‐prepared mind". During Hünig's academic career, teaching played an indisputable role. His efforts in modernizing the chemistry institute at Würzburg and his support of young researchers in the academic system in Germany are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Netherlands, the poet Herman Gorter (1864–1927) is mostly known as the author of the neo-romantic poem May and the "sensitivistic" Poems, but internationally he became famous as a propagandist of radical Marxism: the author of influential brochures and of an "open letter" to comrade W.I. Lenin in 1920. During the 1890s, Gorter became increasingly dissatisfied with his poetry, considering it as ego-centric, disinterested and "bourgeois", unconnected with what was happening in the real (material-political) world. He wanted to put his poetry on a scientific footing, notably by endorsing a dialectical materialist worldview. In the communist society he envisioned, science would become poetry and poetry would become science. In his opus magnum Pan (11,000 lines of verse, published in 1916), two terms are rather prominent, namely heelal ("universe") and kristal ("crystal"). These signifiers not only reflect important themes, but also two friendships which began around 1900, namely with prominent astronomer and marxist Anton Pannekoek (who studied the universe) and with Ada Prins, the first woman in the Netherlands who acquired a PhD in chemistry, specialised in liquid crystal research. Whereas Ada Prins is mostly remembered as one of Gorter's secret lovers, she was first and foremost his educated guide into the complex and enigmatic world of twentieth-century chemistry research. Liquid crystal chemistry became an important source of inspiration for Gorter's work and the main objective of this paper is to demonstrate her influence on Gorter's Pan as a scientific poem After presenting the two heroes of this paper, and their work in poetry and chemistry respectively, I will analyse the role of liquid crystals in Herman Gorter's Pan, highlighting important connections with Ada Prins' research into liquid crystal chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since chemical abundances are inherited between generations of stars, we use them to trace the evolutionary history of our Galaxy. We present a robust methodology for creating a phylogenetic tree, a biological tool used for centuries to study heritability. Combining our phylogeny with information on stellar ages and dynamical properties, we reconstruct the shared history of 78 stars in the solar neighbourhood. The branching pattern in our tree supports a scenario in which the thick disc is an ancestral population of the thin disc. The transition from thick to thin disc shows an anomaly, which we attribute to a star formation burst. Our tree shows a further signature of the variability in stars similar to the Sun, perhaps linked to a minor star formation enhancement creating our Solar system. In this paper, we demonstrate the immense potential of a phylogenetic perspective and interdisciplinary collaboration, where with borrowed techniques from biology we can study key processes that have contributed to the evolution of the Milky Way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on my previous writings on presentism, pluralism, and "complementary science", I develop an activist view of historiography. I begin by recognizing the inevitability of presentism. Our own purposes and perspectives do and should guide the production of our accounts of the past; like funerals, history-writing is for the living. There are different kinds of presentist history, depending on the historians' purposes and perspectives. My particular inclination is pluralist. Science remembers its own history from a particular perspective ("whiggism"), which views the past as imperfect versions of the present; if professional historians of science shared this perspective, our work would be redundant. Instead, we can make it our task to illuminate the aspects of the past of science that scientists themselves tend to ignore and forget. History of science can also take a more productive role in the creation and improvement of scientific knowledge. Scientific progress as we know it tends to involve the shutting down of alternative paths of inquiry, resulting in a loss of potential and actual knowledge. A critical and sympathetic engagement with the past allows us to recover the lost paths, which can also suggest new paths. These points will be illustrated by a number of examples, especially from the history of chemistry and physics, including the recovery and extension of past experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following some years of declining health, Professor Maurice Crosland passed away on 30 August 2020 at the age of eighty-nine. Author of four influential scholarly monographs, Maurice played major roles in the British Society for the History of Science during the 1960s and 1970s as an active Member of Council, Honorary Editor of the British Journal for the History of Science (1965–71) and Honorary President of the society (1974–6). His academic career began in 1963 with his appointment to a lectureship in the History & Philosophy of Science at the University of Leeds. In 1974 the by-then Reader in History of Science secured a £100,000 Nuffield Foundation Grant with which to establish, for the first time, a dedicated history-of-science group at the University of Kent at Canterbury. Appointed Professor of the History of Science and Director of the Unit for the History, Philosophy and Social Relations of Science (known as the 'History of Science Unit' or simply 'the Unit'), his objectives during the five-year Nuffield-funded period were to focus on promoting the research activities of the new group, build up much-needed library resources in a university which was barely ten years old, and effect a transition to a research and teaching Unit that would offer modules to undergraduates in each of the three principal faculties (Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences). His own research centred on French science during and after the Napoleonic period, with particular emphasis on the history of chemistry and the formal institutions and informal networks of Parisian science. In 1984 his work was recognized with the American Chemical Society's award of the Dexter Prize, a rare achievement for a British scholar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New chemistry, the chemistry of the 20th century, developed through four revolutions (instrumental, theoretical, biological, and informational). This development was also evident in Croatia, especially after WWII, when many young Croatian chemists had been educated at British, American, but also Russian universities. This led to the clash of old, traditional (K. Balenović), and young, modern chemists (M. Randić, N. Trinajstić), who introduced theoretical (computational), quantum, and mathematical chemistry in Croatia. There were two aspects of the clash. The first was fundamental; traditional chemists were unable to comprehend chemical research without a chemical laboratory. The second, pragmatic aspect of the clash, materialized in scientometrics, i.e. discussions about the value of chemical research in terms of the number of published papers. Theoretical chemists, namely, published much more than their colleagues engaged in laboratory practice, mostly because of scarce resources and bad organization of scientific research in communist Yugoslavia (1945–1991). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prussian blue (PB) and its analogues (PBAs) have at least a three‐century‐long history in coordination chemistry. Recently, cobalt‐based PBAs have been acknowledged as efficient and robust water oxidation catalysts. Given the flexibility in their synthesis, the structure and morphology of cobalt‐based PBAs have been modified for enhanced catalytic activity under electrochemical (EC), photocatalytic (PC), and photoelectrochemical (PEC) conditions. Here, in this review, the work on cobalt‐based PBAs is presented in four sections: i) electrocatalytic water oxidation with bare PBAs, ii) photocatalytic processes in the presence of a photosensitizer (PS), iii) photoelectrochemical water oxidation by coupling PBAs to proper semiconductors (SCs), and iv) the utilization of PBA‐PS assemblies coated on SCs for the dye‐sensitized photoelectrochemical water oxidation. This review will guide readers through the structure and catalytic activity relationship in cobalt‐based PBAs by describing the role of each structural component. Furthermore, this review aims to provide insight into common strategies to enhance the catalytic activity of PBAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primo Levi (1919–1987) has become an iconic figure at the intersection of chemistry and culture. Levi has long been praised for his autobiographical account as survivor in Auschwitz and by his literary masterpiece "The Periodic Table." Little is however known beyond such facts, especially his academic period and early research on stereochemistry at the University of Turin, which were abruptly truncated by the racial laws and WWII. Even if, later on, Primo Levi succeeded as industrial chemist, he had a vivid interest in molecular asymmetry that lasted through his entire life. This concise paper highlights a little known academic period in the midst of social and political upheaval. Levi left us his humanity in an otherwise tortuous life, and his literature took inspiration from chemistry; perhaps as a metaphor connecting the physical world and people's life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]