Vol. 119 No. 4 (2023)

The present Transformative Agreements signed by the CRUE and the CSIC involve an outlay of 170 million euros in subscription and publication costs. At a price of about 2500 € per open article, they lead us to a completely unaffordable model that will cost five times more than the current subscription costs of all university libraries.

Keywords: Open Access, repositories, publishing industry, transformative agreements

The Universe is molecularly rich. Its chemical diversity and complexity are reflected in the almost 300 species detected in the interstellar medium, some forming on the surfaces of interstellar dust grains. Astrochemistry is traditionally studied through astronomical observations, combined with astrochemical models and experiments, but they have some limitations. Computational chemistry simulations provide quantitative information at the atomic scale (structure, energetics and dynamics) of the processes occurring on the surface of the grains. Here, we present some of these potentials regarding surface modelling, adsorption and reactivity, and third-body effect.

Keywords: Computational chemistry, interstellar medium, surface modelling, adsorption, reactivity, third body

The Institutes of Coal and Applied Chemistry of the University of Oviedo were two research centers created respectively in 1927 and 1932, the second being an expansion of the first. This article aims to highlight the outstanding scientific level achieved by both centers, whose researchers frequently published in international media. The variety of work carried out in the field of coal means that we can speak of the existence of a comprehensive activity around this fossil fuel, with the results obtained in the hydrogenation of coal in colloidal dispersion being especially notable. On the other hand, theoretical studies were carried out on the structure of inorganic compounds and experimental studies were carried out on the development of volumetric analysis methods with potentiometric indication of the end point, taking advantage of the exaltation of the redox properties of certain reagents in an alkaline medium. The center's facilities were severely affected in October 1934 and especially during the Spanish Civil War. Although in 1943 the center was integrated into the “Juan de la Cierva” Board of Trustees of the CSIC, it did not manage to survive, its activity disappearing in the mid-40s of the last century.

Keywords: Applied chemistry, Coal, Research institutes, University of Oviedo

Systematic nomenclature is based on IUPAC recommendations in English. However, the Spanish versions of the Red Book and the Blue Book do not systematically address the peculiarities of the Spanish language. Here, I report the consequences of a strict interpretation of the Spanish normative orthography on various aspects of chemical nomenclature, such as the use of z before e or i, yodo/iodo spelling, accent marks, capitalization, the generation of compound words using juxtaposition or hyphenation, the use of the copulative conjunction, and the adaptation of formulas.

 

Keywords: Chemical Nomenclature, Royal Spanish Academy, Orthography, Syntax, Spanish Language