Vol. 30 (2020): The organized elements: the Periodic Table and its misteries 

From the beginning of times, the matter that surrounds us and that forms the universe has been organizing itself and has formed a multitude of chemical elements. Most of them can be found in nature, but some can only be observed in the laboratory. In the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements, originally conceived by Dmitri Mendeleyev 150 years ago, all of these elements are arranged according to the characteristics of their atoms. In this way, the properties of the elements can be deduced based on the place they occupy, and even unknown elements or properties can be predicted.

Purely inorganic nanomaterials: new opportunities for boron in medicine

The year 2019 was a very special year in the international field of Chemistry, as we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table of the Chemical Elements, proposed by the Russian chemist Dmitri I. Mendeleyev in 1869. The Periodic Table is still fully valid, although it has gone from the 65 initial elements to the 118 elements that we have today. In the 5th position of the second period (row, in the Periodic Table), occupying the first position of the elements of group number 13 (column, in the periodic table) is Boron. Boron is a very similar element to its neighbor, Carbon, but its chemistry is much more unknown. For this reason, this article presents the research carried out in Catalonia of some compounds of this element "icosahedral boron clusters".

The article begins by exposing the chemical characteristics of the element, its provenance, the simplest compounds that it forms, its ancient use and, finally, the research in Boron chemistry carried out in ur country since 1991 and until today. Based on the unique properties of Boron as an element and the propoerties of the compounds it forms, we started designing and synthesizing new icosahedral Boron clusters, considering its potential applications as new materials and drugs. The last section discusses the Boron compounds' use in sensors and biosensors, as X-ray contrast agents in bone cements, and as anticancer agents.

You can continue reading the article here: https://www.raco.cat/index.php/Atzavara/article/view/364960

Here the original abstract of the article written in Catalan by Clara Viñas in L'Atzavara:

Nanomaterials purament inorgànics: noves oportunitats del bor en medicina

L’any 2019 va ser un any molt especial en l’àmbit internacional de la Química ja que va celebrar-se el 150è aniversari de la taula periòdica dels elements químics, proposada pel químic rus Dmitri I. Mendeléiev l’any 1869. La taula periòdica continua plenament vigent tot i que s’ha passat dels 65 elements inicials als 118 d’avui en dia. A la casella 5 del segon període (filera de la taula periòdica) ocupant la primera posició dels elements del grup 13 (columna de la taula periòdica) es troba el bor. L’element bor presenta molta similitud amb el seu veí, el carboni, però la seva química ha restat molt més desconeguda. Per això, en aquest article es presenta la recerca feta a Catalunya d’alguns compostos d’aquest element “els clústers icosaèdrics de bor”.

En aquest article es comença exposant les característiques químiques de l’element, la seva procedència, els compostos més senzills que forma i l’ús que se’n va fer a l’antiguitat per acabar amb la recerca en la química del bor feta a casa nostra des de 1991 fins a dia d’avui. Basant-nos en les propietats úniques del bor com a element i en les dels seus compostos vàrem iniciar el disseny i la síntesi de nous clústers icosaèdrics de bor pensant en la seva potencial aplicació com a nous materials i fàrmacs. En aquest darrer apartat s’exposa el seu ús en sensors i biosensors, com agents de contrast de raigs-X en ciments ossis i com anticancerígens.

You can continue reading the article here: https://www.raco.cat/index.php/Atzavara/article/view/364960

Other articles that are present on this volume of the magazine L'Atzavara: