Inorganic Syntheses: Classic series of chemistry books with strong connections to the University of Illinois

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John P. Fackler Jr., Fackler@mail.chem.tamu.edu, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, University Drive, College Station, TX 77843-3255
Although there were few inorganic chemists in the US in the 1930's, Harold S. Booth (Western Reserve) managed to convince L. F. Audrieth (Illinois), W. C, Fernelius (Ohio State), Warren. C. Johnson (Chicago) and Raymond E. Kirk (Brooklyn Poly) to support the creation of a corporation to publish a series of books detailing inorganic syntheses. The first volume appeared in 1939. Volumes 3, 4, and 5 were edited by the Illinois faculty, Audrieth, John C. Bailar and Therald Moeller. John R. Shapley (Illinois) recently edited the 34th volume. While there are other excellent books on inorganic syntheses, Inorganic Syntheses is currently producing its 36th volume. Each synthesis is checked for reproducibility by a person or team of chemists elsewhere. As a result, these syntheses have found their way into undergraduate and research chemistry laboratories worldwide.