Alfred Werner and Cobalt Complexes
- F. R. MORRALF. R. MORRALCobalt Information Center, Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, OhioMore by F. R. MORRAL
Abstract
The experiments by Werner and his associates on cobalt coordination compounds accomplished two things: they increased the chemical knowledge in this extensive area (more than 700 compounds) and helped Werner develop his ideas on coordination theory and stereochemistry. It was only after he had received the Nobel Prize (1913) and after his death (1919) that his ideas of primary and secondary valence were confirmed. Unfortunately, Werner's span of active life was short (1893-1915). A listing is given of his co-workers who researched cobalt compounds. These resulted in 52 papers by Werner, 75 with co-authors, and at least 10 unpublished theses. Research to 1960 on cobalt coordination compounds has been summarized in "Gmelins Handbuch der anorganischen Chemie" (1963).