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Cover Picture: Is Electronegativity a Useful Descriptor for the Pseudo‐Alkali Metal NH 4 ? (Chem. Eur. J. 47/2011)
Author(s) -
Whiteside Alexander,
Xantheas Sotiris S.,
Gutowski Maciej
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201190241
Subject(s) - electronegativity , alkali metal , chemistry , atom (system on chip) , crystallography , molecular orbital , computational chemistry , portrait , physics , molecule , geography , computer science , organic chemistry , archaeology , embedded system
The computational electronegativity of the ammonium radical reveals the differences between atoms and “pseudo‐atoms” in a paper from A. Whiteside, S. S. Xantheas, and M. Gutowski on page 13197 ff. It is shown from simulations and experimental data that NH 4 can behave like an alkali metal if its molecular properties are suppressed. Activating these properties, such as geometric flexibility, exposes their influence upon the pseudo‐atom's behaviour. Four of the leading historical figures in this area of chemistry are depicted: clockwise from top left: J. J. Berzelius, R. S. Mulliken, G. Herzberg, and L. C. Pauling. Portrait credits: Berzelius from Wikimedia Commons, Mulliken and Pauling from G. Hund, Herzberg from University of Saskatchewan Archives (A‐3234).