Mackay K.M. Hydrogen Compounds of the Metallic Elements

London: E. & F. N. SPON, 1966. — 186 p.The field of metal-hydrogen compounds has undergone rapid expansion in the ten years since the last general review of the subject, and recent progress has clarified much that was formerly obscure, especially in the binary hydrides of the transition elements. At the same time, considerable new areas of great
interest have been explored and the time seems ripe for a general review of the subject. By defining the term ‘metal’ widely, I have tried to avoid any abrupt division between the hydrogen compounds of the metals and non-metals, while at the same time largely omitting the acidic hydrides, and not treating fully the boron and silicon hydrides. The latter two fields have been extensively re-viewed recently. Both the binary hydrides, and the hydride complexes, of the transition metals are discussed, as the range and bonding in these two sets of compounds are largely complementary and together show the very wide range of interaction which can exist between hydrogen and a transition metal. The fully ionic hydrides of the active metals and the volatile and polymeric covalent hydrides of the Main Group metals arc also treated, and a brief account is given of the tetrahydroboronates and related compounds.I hope that this book will be of service to senior Honours undergraduates and to postgraduate students. In addition, a considerable amount of tabulated
material is provided to make the book a useful introduction and reference source for the research worker in any one of the fields covered by the six Chapters. The literature has been searched up to December 1965: the most recent references are in an Addendum (page 181).I wish to thank Miss Ann Mills for assistance with the library work on Chapter 3, Mr. Len Nohre for translation of a Norwegian paper, and my wife for reading the manuscript and supporting me in every phase of the work. I have enjoyed valuable and informative discussions on various aspects of the subject with Professor C. C. Addison and Dr E. A. V. Ebsworth, and I am greatly indebted to Professor H. J. Emeleus who first aroused my interest in
hydrides.K. M. Mackay
Nottngham, 1966.