The Chemistry of Sulfur, Selenium, Tellurium and Polonium deals with the chemistry of sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium. The history, occurrence and distribution, and production of all four elements are discussed, along with their industrial uses, purification, and allotropy; nuclear, physical, and chemical properties; and biological activities. Comprised of two chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the history, occurrence and distribution, and production of sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium, as well as their industrial uses, purification, and allotropy; nuclear, physical, and chemical properties; and biological activities. The compounds of all four elements are also considered, including sulfanes, sulfur halides, oxides and oxyacids, and compounds composed of sulfur, nitrogen, and halogen; peroxides, hydroxides and oxo-acids, sulfides, nitrides and azides, carbon selenides and tellurides; carbonates, salts of organic acids, alkoxides, nitrates, phosphates, chromates, halates and perhalates, and organo-compounds. This book will be of interest to inorganic chemists as well as students and researchers in the field of inorganic chemistry.

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued. The current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.

Cherla Parameswara Murthy Has Been Teaching At Osmania University, Hyderabad For 22 Years. He Is Associated With Many International Research Laboratories. He Worked At The University Of Karlsruhe, W. Germany (1980-81), At The Max-Planck Institute For Radiation Chemistry Mulheim, W. Germany, (1985-86), At The Ohio State University, Columbus, U.S.A. (1987-88) And At Hahn-Meitner Institute, Berlin, Germany During 1993. He Had Many Publications In The National And International Journals.Syed Fazal Mehdi Ali, After Receiving His M.Sc. From Marathwada University (1970), Was Engaged In Teaching The U.G & P.G. Courses At Anwarul Uloom College, Affiliated To Osmania University. After His Voluntary Retirement, He Is Now Serving As The Principal Of Rishi Degree College. He Had Published A Few Research Papers In The Field Of Complexes Of Oxygen And Phophorous Donor Ligands With Rare Earths.D. Ashok Obtained His Ph.D. From Osmania University In 1987. Since Then He Has Been Serving In The Same University And Nourishing His Research Interest In The Field Of Natural Products And Synthetic Organic Chemistry. He Has 20 Papers To His Credit.

In the present edition of the book, a new layout of the book with good looking pictures and tables has been brought for better understading.

This text focuses on the biological interactions of sulphur compounds which arise specifically from the presence of the sulphur atom within the molecule. The book opens with introductory chapters on the chemistry and biology of sulphur, before tackling the field by introducing compounds which share a common chemical combination. In general, following a description of the uses and impact upon the biological field, specific chemical group characteristics are discussed together with the biological activity and structure-activity relationships where known. The toxicity of such compounds, their consequences in biochemical and clinical terms, and their mechanisms of biological interaction are then addressed.

There can be few elements with a biochemistry as coherent as that of sulfur. This important element is crucial to myriad aspects of metabo lism, catalysis, and structure. The plurality of functions in which sulfur is involved derives squarely from the numerous oxidation states in which it may exist, some having great stability, some being capable of ready redox interconversions, and yet others having great instability. As a result, the flux of sulfur from the geosphere through the various kingdoms of life leaves few biochemical processes unaffected. Although there are large gaps in the fabric of our basic knowledge of sulfur biochemistry, it is sufficiently framed to allow a unified and organized story, a story which many of the best-known names in bio chemistry have helped to write. It has been both a task and a privilege to try and summarize this story, one that is enormous, complex, fast moving, still developing and, above all, exciting. I suppose that no mo nographer of such a vast subject could be satisfied with his efforts. It is unfortunately probable that in attempting this task I have made as many errors as a Stilton cheese has blue streaks, and as many omissions as a Swiss cheese has holes. Perfection is not to be achieved in a monograph. Inasmuch as I have succeeded, the credit belongs to those whose efforts gave us the knowledge we have. Where I have failed, the fault is only mine.