The Inorganic Chemistry Division of the

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC ) is an international federation of National Adhering Organizations working for the advancement of the chemical sciences, especially by developing nomenclature and terminology. It is ...

(IUPAC), also known as Division II, deals with all aspects of

inorganic chemistry Inorganic chemistry deals with synthesis and behavior of inorganic and organometallic compounds. This field covers chemical compounds that are not carbon-based, which are the subjects of organic chemistry. The distinction between the two disci ...

, including materials and

bioinorganic chemistry Bioinorganic chemistry is a field that examines the role of metals in biology. Bioinorganic chemistry includes the study of both natural phenomena such as the behavior of metalloproteins as well as artificially introduced metals, including those t ...

, and also with

isotopes Isotopes are two or more types of atoms that have the same atomic number (number of protons in their nuclei) and position in the periodic table (and hence belong to the same chemical element), and that differ in nucleon numbers (mass numbers) ...

atomic weights Relative atomic mass (symbol: ''A''; sometimes abbreviated RAM or r.a.m.), also known by the deprecated synonym atomic weight, is a dimensionless physical quantity defined as the ratio of the average mass of atoms of a chemical element in a give ...

and the

periodic table The periodic table, also known as the periodic table of the (chemical) elements, is a rows and columns arrangement of the chemical elements. It is widely used in chemistry, physics, and other sciences, and is generally seen as an icon of ch ...

. It furthermore advises the Chemical Nomenclature and Structure Representation Division (Division VIII) on issues dealing with inorganic compounds and materials. For the general public, the most visible result of the division's work is that it evaluates and advises the IUPAC on names and symbols proposed for new elements that have been approved for addition to the periodic table. For the scientific end educational community the work on isotopic abundances and atomic weights is of fundamental importance as these numbers are continuously checked and updated.

Subcommittees

The division has the following subcommittees and commissions: * Subcommittee on Isotopic Abundance Measurements * Interdivisional Subcommittee on Materials Chemistry * Subcommittee on Stable Isotope Reference Material Assessment *

Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights The Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW) is an international scientific committee of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) under its Division of Inorganic Chemistry. Since 1899, it is entrusted wit ...

(CIAAW)

Running Projects

List of Running Projects of IUPAC Division II * Recommendations for Isotope Data in Geosciences * Priority claims for the discovery of elements with atomic number greater than 111 * Evaluation of Isotopic Abundance Variations in Selected Heavier Elements * Evaluated Compilation of International Reference Materials for Isotope Abundance Measurements * Development of an Isotopic Periodic Table for the Educational Community * Towards a comprehensive definition of oxidation state * Coordination polymers and metal organic frameworks: nomenclature guidelines * Evaluation of Radiogenic Abundance Variations in Selected Elements * Technical Guidelines for Isotope Abundances and Atomic Weight Measurements * Assessment of Stable Isotopic Reference and Inter-Comparison Materials * Online evaluated isotope ratio database for use communities (2011-2014) * Evaluated Published Isotope Ratio Data (2010- 2011) * Guidelines for Measurement of Luminescence Spectra and Quantum Yields of Inorganic Compounds, Metal Complexes and Materials * Terminology and definition of quantities related to the isotope distribution in elements with more than two stable isotopes * Evaluated published isotope ratio data (2011- 2013) * Evaluation of published lead isotopic data (1950- 2013) for a new standard atomic weight of lead * Development a procedure for using intervals instead of fixed values for atomic weights: an educational exercise

Former projects and other notable activities

The Inorganic Chemistry Division was a partner in the 2011 Global Chemistry Experiment “Water: A Chemical Solution” that took part during the International Year of Chemistry.

Notable former division members

Mary L. Good Mary Lowe Good (June 20, 1931 – November 20, 2019) was an American inorganic chemist who worked academically, in industrial research and in government. Good contributed to the understanding of catalysts such as ruthenium which activate or speed ...

former president *

Norman Greenwood Norman Neill Greenwood FRS CChem FRSC (19 January 1925 – 14 November 2012) was an Australian-British chemist and Emeritus Professor at the University of Leeds. Together with Alan Earnshaw, he wrote the textbook ''Chemistry of the Elements' ...

former president *

Edward Wichers Edward Wichers (March 25, 1892 – January 1984) was a US chemist and Associate Director of the National Bureau of Standards from 1958-62. He is notable for his work on atomic weights of the elements. Edward Wichers graduated from Hope College ...

president 1955–1957

References

{{authority control Chemical nomenclature Chemistry organizations International scientific organizations Standards organisations in Switzerland

Subcommittees

Running Projects

Former projects and other notable activities

Notable former division members

See also

References