The News Magazine of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) CHEMISTRY International January-February 2009 Volume 31 No. 1 The IUPAC International Periodic Tables Chemical Identifier and IUPAC Celebrating Worldwide Excellence in Chemistry From the Editor CHEMISTRY International omething old, something new, something borrowed, something blue . Sthat recipe is for something else, yet it applies surprisingly well to the The News Magazine of the International Union of Pure and contents of this issue of Chemistry International. Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Something old would be the description of IUPAC’s position with regard to the periodic table. The feature article by Jeffery Leigh (page 4) www.iupac.org/publications/ci reminds the reader that “IUPAC’s primary concern is with unequivo- Managing Editor: Fabienne Meyers cal and unambiguous commu- Production Editor: Chris Brouwer nication,” and in the context of Design: CB Communications a periodic table format, IUPAC’s recommendation is only for the All correspondence to be addressed to: groups numbering from 1 to 18, and Fabienne Meyers no more. Leigh demonstrates that IUPAC, c/o Department of Chemistry one table does not fit all uses, and Boston University the periodic table as we know it today is an icon often wrongly associ- Metcalf Center for Science and Engineering ated with IUPAC. 590 Commonwealth Ave. Something new would be the focus of Steve Heller and Alan Boston, MA 02215, USA McNaught’s article (page 7) on InChI, known as “in-chee.” The IUPAC International Chemical Identifier (InChI) continues to be developed and E-mail: [email protected] is becoming more widely used throughout the chemistry community. In Phone: +1 617 358 0410 striking contrast to the traditional nomenclature for which IUPAC is well Fax: +1 617 353 6466 known, InChI constitutes a contemporary tool that renders computer algorithms efficient at searching molecular representations. Printed by: Something borrowed would be the feature by Gábor Magyarfalvi Cadmus Professional Communications, (page 10) reporting on the 2008 International Chemistry Olympiad held Easton, MD, USA in Hungary in July 2008. It is “borrowed” in the sense that the Olympiad continues to build on its success in generating enthusiasm among new Subscriptions generations of chemists, and that endeavor is applauded by IUPAC. Six issues of Chemistry International (ISSN 0193- IUPAC is proud to support the Olympiad, particularly by facilitating the 6484) will be published bimonthly in 2009 (one participation of students from economically disadvantaged countries. volume per annum) in January, March, May, July, Magyarfalvi, a former medalist at the 1989 Olympiad, takes the reader on September, and November. The 2009 subscrip- a tour of what was a pretty exciting ’08 event. In 2009, it will take place tion rate is USD 110.00 for organizations and USD in the U.K. 50.00 for individuals. Subscription orders may be Something blue—a symbol of hope—in this case would be the plethora placed directly with the IUPAC Secretariat. Affiliate of new applications engendered by nanotechnologies. In their article, Members receive CI as part of their Membership Hilda Coulsey and Alan Smith (page 13) review the impact nanotech is subscription, and Members of IUPAC bodies receive having on drug development and consumer healthcare products. CI free of charge. So, here they are, the four items of a good-luck token. With that, I simply wish you all the best for 2009. Reproduction of Articles Unless there is a footnote to the contrary, repro- duction or translation of articles in this issue is Fabienne Meyers encouraged, provided that it is accompanied [email protected] by a reference to the original in Chemistry www.iupac.org/publications/ci International. Periodicals postage paid at Durham, NC 27709- 9990 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chemistry International, IUPAC Secretariat, PO Box 13757, Research Triangle Cover: The periodic table is a familiar icon present in science classrooms Park, NC 27709-3757, USA. around the world. IUPAC’s only recommendation concerning the periodic table stipulates the Group numbering of 1 to 18. ISSN 0193-6484 Contents CHEMISTRY International January-February 2009 Volume 31 No. 1 President’s Column Toward the Next Renaissance of Chemical Science in the 21st Century by Jung-Il Jin 2 Features Periodic Tables and IUPAC by G. Jeffery Leigh 4 The IUPAC International Chemical Identifier (InChI) by Stephen R. Heller and Alan D. McNaught 7 Celebrating Worldwide Excellence in Chemistry by Gábor Magyarfalvi 10 Nanotechnology in Good Health? by Hilda Coulsey and Alan Smith 13 IUPAC Wire Yuan Tseh Lee to Be President of the International Council for Science 17 Leading Scientific Organization Affirms Freedom, Responsibility, and the Universality of Science 17 Remembering Dana Knox 18 Chemical Heritage Foundation Fellowships 18 The Royal Society of Chemistry and ChemSpider to Develop InChI Resolver 19 Making an imPACt Glossary of Terms Related to Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and Mechanisms of Polymerization 20 Protocols on Safety, Efficacy, Standardization, and Documentation of Herbal Medicine 20 Solubility Data Series Volume 85: Transition and 12–14 Main Group Metals, Lanthanide, Actinide, Stamps and Ammonium Halates 21 International Solubility Data Series Volume 86: Ethers and 16 Ketones with Water 21 Bookworm Future Energy—Improved, Sustainable, and Clean Options for Our Planet 22 Biophysical Chemistry of Fractal Structures and Processes in Environmental Systems 22 U P A C Macromolecular Symposia—recent volumes 23 IUPAC CONGRESS IUPAC GENERAL ASSEMBLY ISPC-19 Conference Call ICHC-22 OMCOS-15 RCCT 2009 SM-2 IVMTTC 32 POLYCHAR-17 IP ‘09 ISNA-13 TEF-3 NMS-V Chemical Education by Morton Z. Hoffman and Ponnadurai Ramasami 24 POC ‘09 FLOHET 10 ESCL ISMESS COCI WORKSHOP Physical Organic Chemistry by Charles L. Perrin 26 Molecular Order and Mobility in Polymer Systems AM-10 by Tatiana Birshtein 27 ISRP Where 2B & Y 29 9 CONFERENCES ERNATIONAL UNION OF PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY Mark Your Calendar 31 A complimentary map/2009 calendar is enclosed with this issue. President’s Column attract international attention to the importance of Toward the Next the chemical sciences and, at the same time, to the eminent historical role that IUPAC has played at the Renaissance of forefront of the world chemical community. The focal point of this attention is likely to be the news that 2011 Chemical Science in will be the International Year of Chemistry; soon to be proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. the 21st Century The year 2011 will be the centenary of Marie Curie’s by Jung-Il Jin receipt of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Also, we will be celebrating 100 years since the formation of the International Association of Chemical Societies he public’s opinions and atti- (IACS), the predecessor to IUPAC. We have to make tudes towards chemistry are the most of these opportunities to achieve several Texceedingly negative. Many important goals: people do not appreciate that chem- • improve the public appreciation of chemistry istry has contributed significantly to • entice more of the promising younger generation the quality of human life. They also into the fields of chemical sciences cannot believe that chemistry contin- • regain for chemistry the respect and admiration ues to play a major role as a problem that it deserves for a century of unprecedented solver for such urgent global conun- progress in technologies drums as energy, the environment, natural resources, • start building the groundwork for the second human health, and personal and national security. century of IUPAC Despite all this, I foresee with great positivity that a Renaissance of Chemical Science will blossom in the Progress in chemistry in the past century has 21st century. This will occur because of chemistry’s brought us material abundance and improved health intrinsic creative nature and its ability to respond to care and disease control. However, in the second half societal needs. of the last century, public acceptance of chemistry and chemicals has deteriorated for various reasons that we However, we should not for a second harbor the all are very well aware of. Needless to say, a part of this belief that the next Renaissance of Chemical Science negative public opinion will inevitably envelop us. It can be achieved only is groundless and/or I foresee with great through our incessant, diligent pursuit of it. It is true politically misguided, that crises generate chances, and challenges offer but it is a fact that we positivity that a opportunities. It is particularly fortunate for us as must overcome. Renaissance of chemists that most of the contemporary and near All of the present Chemical Science will future challenges facing this planet can be solved century’s new slogans through the power of chemistry. This power should such as sustainable blossom in the 21st be nurtured by all the chemical scientists throughout development, green century. the world. growth, environmental There is no doubt—or at least I strongly believe protection and friendliness, innovative energy tech- it—that IUPAC is the only organization that can pull nologies, improved personal and national security, together the ingenuity and creativity of all the world’s functional longevity, and more, can find technical chemists to cope with—and find answers to and rem- solutions from the chemical sciences. International edies for—the scientific and technological demands cooperation coupled with individual chemists’ creativ- necessary for the sustainable development of the ity and backed by constructive social consciousness, world. If this statement elicits any doubt among IUPAC should lessen all the global anguish. Such a socio-sci- members, I would like to have them explain why. After entific analysis of global issues, and synthetic efforts all, it is the responsibility of all IUPAC members to to find speedy answers to them, promptly and right- explain to others how IUPAC can pull together chem- fully imply that IUPAC should assume the central posi- ists worldwide.