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Binding: A unifying notion or a pseudoconcept?
Author(s) -
Del Re Giuseppe
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
international journal of quantum chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.484
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-461X
pISSN - 0020-7608
DOI - 10.1002/qua.560190605
Subject(s) - ignorance , variety (cybernetics) , cover (algebra) , epistemology , point (geometry) , field (mathematics) , computer science , chemistry , mathematics , engineering , artificial intelligence , philosophy , geometry , pure mathematics , mechanical engineering
Communication between chemists and physicists working in different domains of physical chemistry may sound like a dream, but actually it must be established in order that the whole field may develop in a more efficient way. Binding is a unifying concept whose discussion may make it possible for specialists of different extractions to profit from each other's work. When different specialists speak of binding, they have some intuitive picture in mind. Does it correspond to a unique well‐defined concept, or is it just a cover for ignorance? A tentative definition is proposed as a starting point for discussion, but it is also emphasized that only from an open‐minded and thorough analysis of the various interpretations it should be possible to make real progress. An example showing very clearly the relationship between the various topics is that of biopolymers, whose understanding depends on the specification of the role of a variety of binding effects, from chemisorption to charge transfer to (one‐dimensional) metallic binding.