Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry (recommendations 1990) - The Red Book

• G.J. Leigh

Chemical nomenclature has attracted attention since the beginningof chemistry, because the need to exchange knowledge was recognisedfrom the early days. The responsibility for providing nomenclature tothe chemical community has been assigned to the International Unionof Pure and Applied Chemistry, whose Rules for Inorganic Nomenclaturehave been published and revised in 1958 and 1970. Since then many newcompounds have appeared, particularly with regard to coordination chemistryand boron chemistry, which were difficult to name from the 1970 Rules.Consequently the IUPAC Commission of Nomenclature on Inorganic Chemistrydecided to thoroughly revise the last edition of the `Red Book.' Becausemany of the new fields of chemistry are very highly specialised andneed complex types of name, the revised edition will appear in two parts.Part 1 will be mainly concerned with general inorganic chemistry, Part2 with more specialised areas such as strand inorganic polymers andpolyoxoanions. This new edition represents Part 1 - in it can be foundrules to name compounds ranging from the simplest molecules to oxoacidsand their derivatives, coordination compounds, and simple boron compounds.

General aims, functions, and methods of chemical nomenclature; Grammar; Elements, atoms, and groups of atoms; Formulae; Names based on stoichiometry; Solids; Neutral molecular compounds; Names for ions, substituent groups and radicals, and salts; Coordination compounds; Boron hydrides and related compounds; Tables; Appendix.