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Almost thirty years ago the criteria that are currently used to verify claims for the discovery of a new element were set down by the comprehensive work of a Transfermium Working Group, TWG, jointly established by IUPAC and IUPAP. The recent completion of the naming of the 118 elements in the first seven periods of the Periodic Table of the Elements was considered as an opportunity for a review of these criteria in the light of the experimental and theoretical advances in the field. In late 2016 the Unions decided to establish a new Joint Working Group, JWG, consisting of six members determined by the Unions. A first meeting of the JWG was in May 2017. One year later this report was finished. In a first part the works and conclusions of the TWG and the Joint Working Parties, JWP, deciding on the discovery of the now named elements are summarized. Possible experimental developments for production and identification of new elements beyond the presently known ones are estimated. Criteria and guidelines for establishing priority of discovery of these potential new elements are presented. Special emphasis is given to a description for the application of the criteria and the limits for their applicability.

The isotopic composition and atomic weight of lead are variable in terrestrial materials because its three heaviest stable isotopes are stable end-products of the radioactive decay of uranium (238U to 206Pb; 235U to 207Pb) and thorium (232Th to 208Pb). The lightest stable isotope, 204Pb, is primordial. These variations in isotope ratios and atomic weights provide useful information in many areas of science, including geochronology, archaeology, environmental studies, and forensic science. While elemental lead can serve as an abundant and homogeneous isotopic reference, deviations from the isotope ratios in other lead occurrences limit the accuracy with which a standard atomic weight can be given for lead. In a comprehensive review of several hundred publications and analyses of more than 8000 samples, published isotope data indicate that the lowest reported lead atomic weight of a normal terrestrial materials is 206.1462 ± 0.0028 (k = 2), determined for a growth of the phosphate mineral monazite around a garnet relic from an Archean high-grade metamorphic terrain in north-western Scotland, which contains mostly 206Pb and almost no 204Pb. The highest published lead atomic weight is 207.9351 ± 0.0005 (k = 2) for monazite from a micro-inclusion in a garnet relic, also from a high-grade metamorphic terrain in north-western Scotland, which contains almost pure radiogenic 208Pb. When expressed as an interval, the lead atomic weight is [206.14, 207.94]. It is proposed that a value of 207.2 be adopted for the single lead atomic-weight value for education, commerce, and industry, corresponding to previously published conventional atomic-weight values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost thirty years ago the criteria that are currently used to verify claims for the discovery of a new element were set down by the comprehensive work of a Transfermium Working Group, TWG, jointly established by IUPAC and IUPAP. The recent completion of the naming of the 118 elements in the first seven periods of the Periodic Table of the Elements was considered as an opportunity for a review of these criteria in the light of the experimental and theoretical advances in the field. In late 2016 the Unions decided to establish a new Joint Working Group, JWG, consisting of six members determined by the Unions. A first meeting of the JWG was in May 2017. One year later this report was finished. In a first part the works and conclusions of the TWG and the Joint Working Parties, JWP, deciding on the discovery of the now named elements are summarized. Possible experimental developments for production and identification of new elements beyond the presently known ones are estimated. Criteria and guidelines for establishing priority of discovery of these potential new elements are presented. Special emphasis is given to a description for the application of the criteria and the limits for their applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An appraisal of the current IUPAC recommendations for the nomenclature of boranes and related systems has been undertaken. New developments in the field have been investigated and existing nomenclature systems have been adapted to accommodate these new developments. The principal areas considered are stoichiometric and structural nomenclature (including heteroatom and metal-atom subrogation, as well as substitution of hydrogen), conjoined-cage species, supra-icosahedral systems, and sub-icosahedral non-standard structures. Elements of substitutive, additive, and replacement nomenclature systems have been integrated into individual names to address contentious problems in boron nomenclature that have been around for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes (IPTEI) was created to familiarize students, teachers, and non-professionals with the existence and importance of isotopes of the chemical elements. The IPTEI is modeled on the familiar Periodic Table of the Chemical Elements. The IPTEI is intended to hang on the walls of chemistry laboratories and classrooms. Each cell of the IPTEI provides the chemical name, symbol, atomic number, and standard atomic weight of an element. Color-coded pie charts in each element cell display the stable isotopes and the relatively long-lived radioactive isotopes having characteristic terrestrial isotopic compositions that determine the standard atomic weight of each element. The background color scheme of cells categorizes the 118 elements into four groups: (1) white indicates the element has no standard atomic weight, (2) blue indicates the element has only one isotope that is used to determine its standard atomic weight, which is given as a single value with an uncertainty, (3) yellow indicates the element has two or more isotopes that are used to determine its standard atomic weight, which is given as a single value with an uncertainty, and (4) pink indicates the element has a well-documented variation in its atomic weight, and the standard atomic weight is expressed as an interval. An element-by-element review accompanies the IPTEI and includes a chart of all known stable and radioactive isotopes for each element. Practical applications of isotopic measurements and technologies are included for the following fields: forensic science, geochronology, Earth-system sciences, environmental science, and human health sciences, including medical diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A joint IUPAC/IUPAP Working Party (JWP) has confirmed the discovery of the elements with atomic numbers (Z) 113, 115, 117 and 118. In accordance with the 2016 IUPAC guideline for naming new elements, the discoverers were invited to propose names and symbols for the elements. Claims have been assigned to them and the following are proposed: (a) nihonium and symbol Nh, for the element with Z = 113, (b) moscovium with the symbol Mc, for the element with Z = 115, (c) tennessine with the symbol Ts, for the element with Z = 117, and oganesson with the symbol Og, for the element with Z = 118. After careful deliberation on these names and symbols, considering the 2016 rules and a public review period, the Inorganic Chemistry Division recommended these proposals for acceptance by the IUPAC Council. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guidelines for measuring the luminescence of inorganic compounds, metal complexes, and organometallic compounds are described. Common textbooks and manuals describing luminescence measurements are usually targeted for organic compounds, and are not always suitable for inorganic and organometallic compounds, which emit room-temperature phosphorescence. The report describes problems that researchers may confront while recording emission data and elaborates clear procedures to avoid these problems and provide adequate standardized protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth IUPAC/IUPAP Joint Working Party (JWP) on the priority of claims to the discovery of new elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 has reviewed the relevant literature pertaining to several claims. In accordance with the Criteria for the discovery of elements previously established by the 1991 IUPAC/IUPAP Transfermium Working Group (TWG), and reinforced in subsequent IUPAC/IUPAP JWP discussions, it was determined that the RIKEN collaboration has fulfilled those Criteria for element Z=113. The Dubna-Livermore-Oak Ridge collaborations claims for 115 and 117 are also in compliance. The discussion of element Z=118 will appear in a subsequent report. A synopsis of experiments and related efforts is presented along with some commentary guiding future applications of the Criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth IUPAC/IUPAP Joint Working Party (JWP) on the priority of claims to the discovery of new elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 has reviewed the relevant literature pertaining to several claims. In accordance with the criteria for the discovery of elements previously established by the 1991 IUPAC/IUPAP Transfermium Working Group (TWG), and reinforced in subsequent IUPAC/IUPAP JWP discussions, it was determined that the Dubna-Livermore collaboration has fulfilled those criteria for element Z=118. A synopsis of experiments and related efforts is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth IUPAC/IUPAP Joint Working Party (JWP) on the priority of claims to the discovery of new elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 has reviewed the relevant literature pertaining to several claims. In accordance with the criteria for the discovery of elements previously established by the 1991 IUPAC/IUPAP Transfermium Working Group (TWG), and reinforced in subsequent IUPAC/IUPAP JWP discussions, it was determined that the Dubna-Livermore collaboration has fulfilled those criteria for element Z = 118. A synopsis of experiments and related efforts is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth IUPAC/IUPAP Joint Working Party (JWP) on the priority of claims to the discovery of new elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 has reviewed the relevant literature pertaining to several claims. In accordance with the Criteria for the discovery of elements previously established by the 1991 IUPAC/IUPAP Transfermium Working Group (TWG), and reinforced in subsequent IUPAC/IUPAP JWP discussions, it was determined that the RIKEN collaboration has fulfilled those Criteria for element Z = 113. The Dubna-Livermore-Oak Ridge collaborations claims for 115 and 117 are also in compliance. The discussion of element Z = 118 will appear in a subsequent report. A synopsis of experiments and related efforts is presented along with some commentary guiding future applications of the Criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isotopic composition and atomic weight of argon (Ar) are variable in terrestrial materials. Those variations are a source of uncertainty in the assignment of standard properties for Ar, but they provide useful information in many areas of science. Variations in the stable isotopic composition and atomic weight of Ar are caused by several different processes, including (1) isotope production from other elements by radioactive decay (radiogenic isotopes) or other nuclear transformations (e.g., nucleogenic isotopes), and (2) isotopic fractionation by physical-chemical processes such as diffusion or phase equilibria. Physical-chemical processes cause correlated mass-dependent variations in the Ar isotope-amount ratios (40Ar/36Ar, 38Ar/36Ar), whereas nuclear transformation processes cause non-mass-dependent variations. While atmospheric Ar can serve as an abundant and homogeneous isotopic reference, deviations from the atmospheric isotopic ratios in other Ar occurrences limit the precision with which a standard atomic weight can be given for Ar. Published data indicate variation of Ar atomic weights in normal terrestrial materials between about 39.7931 and 39.9624. The upper bound of this interval is given by the atomic mass of 40Ar, as some samples contain almost pure radiogenic 40Ar. The lower bound is derived from analyses of pitchblende (uranium mineral) containing large amounts of nucleogenic 36Ar and 38Ar. Within this interval, measurements of different isotope ratios (40Ar/36Ar or 38Ar/36Ar) at various levels of precision are widely used for studies in geochronology, water-rock interaction, atmospheric evolution, and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A generic definition of oxidation state (OS) is formulated: ' The OS of a bonded atom equals its charge after ionic approximation'. In the ionic approximation, the atom that contributes more to the bonding molecular orbital (MO) becomes negative. This sign can also be estimated by comparing Allen electronegativities of the two bonded atoms, but this simplification carries an exception when the more electronegative atom is bonded as a Lewis acid. Two principal algorithms are outlined for OS determination of an atom in a compound; one based on composition, the other on topology. Both provide the same generic OS because both the ionic approximation and structural formula obey rules of stable electron configurations. A sufficiently simple empirical formula yields OS via the algorithm of direct ionic approximation (DIA) by these rules. The topological algorithm works on a Lewis formula (for a molecule) or a bond graph (for an extended solid) and has two variants. One assigns bonding electrons to more electronegative bond partners, the other sums an atom's formal charge with bond orders (or bond valences) of sign defined by the ionic approximation of each particular bond at the atom. A glossary of terms and auxiliary rules needed for determination of OS are provided, illustrated with examples, and the origins of ambiguous OS values are pointed out. An electrochemical OS is suggested with a nominal value equal to the average OS for atoms of the same element in a moiety that is charged or otherwise electrochemically relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 1950s, the number of international measurement standards for anchoring stable isotope delta scales has mushroomed from 3 to more than 30, expanding to more than 25 chemical elements. With the development of new instrumentation, along with new and improved measurement procedures for studying naturally occurring isotopic abundance variations in natural and technical samples, the number of internationally distributed, secondary isotopic reference materials with a specified delta value has blossomed in the last six decades to more than 150 materials. More than half of these isotopic reference materials were produced for isotope-delta measurements of seven elements: H, Li, B, C, N, O, and S. The number of isotopic reference materials for other, heavier elements has grown considerably over the last decade. Nevertheless, even primary international measurement standards for isotope-delta measurements are still needed for some elements, including Mg, Fe, Te, Sb, Mo, and Ge. It is recommended that authors publish the delta values of internationally distributed, secondary isotopic reference materials that were used for anchoring their measurement results to the respective primary stable isotope scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of terms, definitions, and recommendations is provided for use in the classification of coordination polymers, networks, and metal--organic frameworks (MOFs). A hierarchical terminology is recommended in which the most general term is coordination polymer. Coordination networks are a subset of coordination polymers and MOFs a further subset of coordination networks. One of the criteria an MOF needs to fulfill is that it contains potential voids, but no physical measurements of porosity or other properties are demanded per se. The use of topology and topology descriptors to enhance the description of crystal structures of MOFs and 3D-coordination polymers is furthermore strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biennial review of atomic-weight determinations and other cognate data has resulted in changes for the standard atomic weights of five elements. The atomic weight of bromine has changed from 79.904(1) to the interval [79.901, 79.907], germanium from 72.63(1) to 72.630(8), indium from 114.818(3) to 114.818(1), magnesium from 24.3050(6) to the interval [24.304, 24.307], and mercury from 200.59(2) to 200.592(3). For bromine and magnesium, assignment of intervals for the new standard atomic weights reflects the common occurrence of variations in the atomic weights of those elements in normal terrestrial materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A joint IUPAC/IUPAP Working Party (JWP) has confirmed the discovery of the elements with atomic numbers 114 and 116. In accordance with IUPAC procedures, the discoverers proposed names as follows: flerovium with the symbol Fl for the element with Z = 114 and livermorium with the symbol Lv for the element with Z = 116. The IUPAC Inorganic Chemistry Division recommended these proposals for acceptance, and they were adopted on 23 May 2012 by the IUPAC Bureau as delegated to act by the IUPAC Council meeting on 3-4 August 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of δ(13C) determined on CO2 with an isotope-ratio mass spectro m - eter (IRMS) must be corrected for the amount of 17O in the CO2. For data consistency, this must be done using identical methods by different laboratories. This report aims at unifying data treatment for CO2 IRMS by proposing (i) a unified set of numerical values, and (ii) a unified correction algorithm, based on a simple, linear approximation formula. Because the oxygen of natural CO2 is derived mostly from the global water pool, it is recommended that a value of 0.528 be employed for the factor λ, which relates differences in 17O and 18O abundances. With the currently accepted N(13C)/N(12C) of 0.011180(28) in VPDB (Vienna Peedee belemnite) reevaluation of data yields a value of 0.000 393(1) for the oxygen isotope ratio N(17O)/N(16O) of the evolved CO2. The ratio of these quantities, a ratio of isotope ratios, is essential for the 17O abundance correction: [N(17O)/N(16O)]/[N(13C)/N(12C)] = 0.035 16(8). The equation [δ(13C) ≈ 45δVPDB-CO2 + 2 17R/13R (45δVPDB-CO2 - λ46δVPDB-CO2)] closely approximates δ(13C) values with less than 0.010 ‰ deviation for normal oxygenbearing materials and no more than 0.026 ‰ in extreme cases. Other materials containing oxygen of non-mass-dependent isotope composition require a more specific data treatment. A similar linear approximation is also suggested for δ(18O). The linear approximations are easy to implement in a data spreadsheet, and also help in generating a simplified uncertainty budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest evaluation of atomic weight determinations and other cognate data has warranted five changes for the standard atomic weights of the elements, Ar(E), from those published previously in the Table of Atomic Weights 2005. The revised standard atomic weight of nickel, Ar(Ni), is 58.6934(4); zinc, Ar(Zn), is 65.38(2); molybdenum, Ar(Mo), is 95.96(2); ytterbium, Ar(Yb), is 173.054(5); and lutetium, Ar(Lu), is 174.966 8(1). Standard atomic weight tables abridged to four and five significant figures were also evaluated. The Commission-recommended value for the isotope-amount ratio of n(40Ar)/n(36Ar), which is of importance in geochronology and geochemistry, has been changed to 298.56(31) from 296.03(53) based on new measurements. Atmospheric O2 is recognized as an international measurement standard, along with Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water (VSMOW) and Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (VPDB) carbonate for measurement and reporting of differences in relative oxygen isotope-amount ratios δ(17O) and δ(18O). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes the results of a Project whose goals were to "assemble, collate and disseminate information about the scope of the newly-emerging discipline of materials chemistry, leading to an authoritative definition of the subject within the family of chemical sciences" and further, as a corollary, "to recommend to IUPAC how this new discipline might best be represented within the IUPAC structure". The history and current status of the research and teaching, only recently labeled as "materials chemistry", is described. This field has become one of the major growth sectors in pure and applied chemistry and now accounts for a significant fraction of all publications in the chemical sciences, based on measures such as journal citations and submitted papers and journals that are devoted entirely or in part to this subject. Nonetheless, there is still considerable confusion about what does, and does not, fall within the scope of "materials chemistry", and there is no consensus regarding a definition for the subject. After examining existing definitions for "chemistry" and "materials science" and considering prior attempts to define the subject, the following working definition for "materials chemistry" was suggested: "Materials chemistry comprises the application of chemistry to the design, synthesis, characterization, processing, understanding and utilisation of materials, particularly those with useful, or potentially useful, physical properties." In conclusion, the report suggests that IUPAC consider elevating this field from its current Subdivision status to that of "a cross-divisional Committee that would work with all the current IUPAC Divisions to develop and co-sponsor new projects, in the area of chemical education, nomenclature, terminology, health and safety, etc., that will increase the recognition of the current and future importance of this field to the international chemistry community". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last four to five decades, high-temperature materials chemistry (HTMC) has become a flourishing area of scientific and applied research, spurred by both a growing demand for new inorganic materials (e.g., oxide and non-oxide modern multifunctional ceramics, intermetallics, and oxidation-resistant alloys) able to withstand extreme thermal and chemical environments and by the recognition that chemical and physical behavior at high temperatures differs from, and cannot be extrapolated from, behavior at temperatures near room temperature. Despite the important role played by HTMC in modern advanced technology and the fundamental differences in behavior encountered at high temperatures, HTMC topics are rarely covered in chemistry and materials science programs at the university level because of a lack of readily accessible resource material--no textbook exists specifically devoted to HTMC topics. IUPAC's Inorganic Chemistry Division sponsored a project to address this gap, resulting in the present report. The report includes an introduction and seven sections covering historical background, chemical behavior of condensed-phase/gas-phase systems at high temperature, basic concepts of materials thermodynamics, experimental techniques, use of thermodynamic data and modeling, vaporization and decomposition processes, and gas-solid reactions. The ninth section covers more specific topics, primarily concerning applications of high-temperature materials and processes. Each recommended topic is accompanied by a bibliography of helpful references, a short introduction or explanation including the areas of application, and some relevant teaching suggestions. An extensive annotated resource bibliography is an Appendix to the report available as supplementary material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A joint IUPAC/IUPAP Working Party (JWP) has confirmed the discovery of the element with atomic number 112. In accord with IUPAC procedures, the discoverers proposed a name, copernicium, and symbol, Cn, for the element. The IUPAC Inorganic Chemistry Division Committee recommended this proposal for acceptance, and it has now been approved by the IUPAC Bureau as delegated to act by the IUPAC Council meeting on 12 August 2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]