The scope of inorganic chemistry

Inorganic chemistry is what inorganic chemists do. The perpetuation of the traditional divisions of chemistry, and of a number of subdivisions, is related to the tribal loyalties of chemists. Just as most people are proud of their nationality, most chemists, in common with other scientists, feel the need to belong to a particular group. An inspection of the political map of the world will reveal many countries whose emergence and survival as sovereign states are difficult to understand, since they are not bounded by any obvious geographical features. Boundaries between nations are often determined, and persist, for historical reasons which have faded into relative obscurity. Likewise, chemistry has been divided for reasons thought proper at one time but which are no longer appropriate. Members of a tribe commune with each other via their writings in journals (many of which are devoted to the specialised interests of the tribe) and by meeting at conferences. The members share a common folklore and hagiology, which, together with the distinctive jargon of their subject, engender a feeling of kinship. There are movements afoot to abolish terms such as ‘inorganic chemistry’; but these are not likely to prevail in the near future.