Technikatörténeti szemle 19. (1992)
KÖNYVISMERTETÉS - Papers of the First „MINERALKONTOR” International Conference on the History of Chemistry and Chemical Industry (Veszprém, 12-16 August, 1991)
About some regularities of the development of crystal chemistry of inorganic oxygen compounds (IOC) As the first step in retrospective interpretation of the development of inorganic crystal chemistry we tried to study the history of crystal-chemical studies of IOC (silicates, phosphates, molybdates and tungstates). The results of this research are reflected in the monographs (24—26). We shall speak about several regularities and aspects of the development of inorganic oxygen compound crystal chemistry. 1. The main feature of the development of IOC crystal chemistry as well as that of the whole inorganic crystal chemistry is the outstripping development of topological studies (analysis of geometry and the type of structural packaging) in comparison with the study of chemical bonds in crystals. 2. The fundamental regularity of the development of IOC crystal chemistry is the consecutive change of assertions about the structure-forming role of the most compact packaging, large cations and cation matrices correspondingly in crystal chemistry of „Bragg's structures", ..second chapter of crystal chemistry of silicates" and crystal chemistry of compounds with heavy multivalent cations. 3. The evolution of the X-ray analysis, as the main method of crystal chemistry, greatly influences the development of crystal chemistry ideology. At the same time, the rate of acquiring new structural information shortens the time for its comprehension. As a result, within the expanding scope, the „old" crystal chemistry ideology propagates. 4. In the X-ray analysis of silicates, phosphates, molybdates and tungstates the choice of the research strategy dominates. In lack of the precise technique, N. V. Belov worked out „the second chapter of crystal chemistry for silicates" in the years 1950 through 1960s on the basis of X-ray analysis date obtained of sufficiently large number of Ca-silicates. On the contrary, precise study of structure of molybdates and tungstates of rare earth metals in particular, as the basis of search in crystallo-chemical interpretation of ferroelectric, ferroelastic and laser properties of crystals, made it possible for the employees of Dupont de Nemour and Bell Telephone Laboratories to lay foundation of the trend of physical metallurgy in modern inorganic crystal chemistry. 5. As a regularity should be recognized a spasmodic development of crystal chemistry of silicates (and their structural analogues) as a result of the establishment of their structures. 6. An important factor in the progress of IOC crystal chemistry was the social order/system, intensive development of crystal chemistry of calcium hydrosilicates and stimulation by the post-war shortage of constructional materials. Literature 1. Rammelsberg, C. F.: Lehrbuch der Krystallkunde, oder, Anfangsgründe der Krystallographie, Krystallphysik, und Krystallchemie, B.: P. Jeanrenand, 1852. 235. S. 2. Groth, P.: Chemische Kristallographie. Bd. 1—5. Lpz.: Engelmann, 196—1919. 3. Fedorov, E. S.: Main law of crystal chemistry = Izv. AN. Ser. 6. 1916. Vol. 1, N 6. p. 435— 454. (in Russian)
