Innovations in Chemistry and Physics

The term innovation refers to a new way of doing something. It may refer to incremental, radical, and revolutionary changes in thinking, products, processes, or organizations. A distinction is typically made between invention, an idea made manifest, and innovation, ideas applied successfully.

Superhalogens: New Class of Magic Atomic Clusters Discovered

Virginia Commonwealth University (2011, February 12). Superhalogens: New class of magic atomic clusters discovered.ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 25, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2011/02/110211124613.htm

An international team of researchers has discovered a new class of magnetic superhalogens -- a class of atomic clusters able to exhibit unusual stability at a specific size and composition, which may be used to advance materials science by allowing scientists to create a new class of salts with magnetic and super-oxidizing properties not previously found.

Unlike conventional superhalogens that are composed of a metal atom at the core and surrounded by halogen atoms, the magnetic superhalogens discovered by this team are composed of stoichiometric metal-halogen moieties at the core to which an additional halogen is attached.

The new chemical species known as magnetic superhalogens mimic the chemistry of halogens which are a class of elements from the periodic table, namely, iodine, astatine, bromine, fluorine and chlorine. The word halogen means "salt-former," and when one of the elements above combines with sodium, they can form a salt.

Specifically, the cluster is Mn_xCl_2x+1, where x = 1, 2, 3, and so on, have manganese and chlorine atoms as a core to which only one chlorine atom is attached. The manganese atoms carry a large magnetic moment and therefore make these superhalogens magnetic.

"One can now design and synthesize yet unknown magnetic superhalogens by changing the metal atom from manganese to other transition metal atoms and changing chlorine to other halogen atoms. In addition to their use as oxidizing agents, being magnetic opens the door to the synthesis a new class of salts," said lead investigator Puru Jena, Ph.D., distinguished professor of physics at VCU.

According to Jena, superhalogens are like halogens, in the sense they form negative ions, but their affinity to attract electrons is far greater than those of any halogen atoms. Negative ions are useful as oxidizing agents, for purification of air and in serotonin release for uplifting mood.

"Superhalogens can do the same thing as halogens can do, only better," said Jena. "The ability of superhalogens to carry large quantities of fluorine and chlorine can be used for combating biological agents as well."

"In addition, superhalogens, due to their large electron affinity, can involve inner core electrons of metal atoms in chemical reaction, thus fundamentally giving rise to new chemistry," said Jena.

In October, Jena and his colleagues reported the discovery of a new class of highly electronegative chemical species called hyperhalogens, which use superhalogens as building blocks around a metal atom. The chemical species may have application in many industries.

In my point of view:

The discovery of this superhalogens can help the scientists to create salts with magnetic and super-oxidizing properties which can help us in many aspects/fields.

1. One of the application of this discovery might be the use of the magnets in the medical sciences which is very affective. We can use magnet therapy for the pain management without any use of the medicines. The magnets can stimulate the nerves in the human body and increase the blood circulation, which carries oxygen to the tissues. The magnet are used to heal the pains and the wounds of the athletes. Doctors uses the magnets to cure arthritis, gout, spondilitis and other problems related to the nervous system. Magnetic mattress are used for relaxing the body. In MRI we use the magnets. Magnets are used to cure the depression, headaches and migraines.

2. We can use the salts that has super-oxidizing properties to clean our teeth.
3. In baking industries we can use the “improvers,” or oxidizing substances, enhances the baking quality of flour, allowing production of better and larger loaves. Relatively small amounts are required, generally a few parts per million. Although such improvers and the bleaching agents used to rectify excessive yellowness in flour are permitted in most countries, the processes are not yet considered as universal.
   4. Other by products of this research can be use for purification of air and in serotonin release for uplifting mood of an individuals.