Abstract

Chemical nomenclature has attracted attention since the beginning of chemistry, when the need to exchange knowledge was first recognised. The responsibility for providing nomenclature to the chemical community was assigned to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, whose Rules for Inorganic Nomenclature were published and revised in 1958 and 1970. Since then many new compounds have appeared, particularly with regard to coordination chemistry and boron chemistry, which were difficult to name using the 1970 Rules. Consequently, the IUPAC Commission on the Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry decided to thoroughly revise the last edition of the 'Red Book'. As many of the new fields of chemistry are very highly specialised and require complex nomenclature, the revised edition is in two parts. Whilst Part I is mainly concerned with general inorganic chemistry, this volume, Part II, addresses such diverse chemistry as polyanions, isotopic modification, tetrapyrroles, nitrogen hydrides, inorganic ring, chain, polymer, and graphite intercalation compounds. The recommendations bring order to the nomenclature of these specialised systems, based on the fundamental nomenclature described in Part I and the organic nomenclature publications. Each chapter has been subject to extensive review by members of IUPAC and practising chemists in various areas.