Open research questions in History and advancements in chemistry
124 gap statements mined from History and advancements in chemistry papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 623 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.
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What the literature leaves open
The lack of understanding of the importance of phosphorus in biological molecules. The limited application of Pauling's second rule to biological phenomena.
Pauling’s Second Rule and Its Applications: From Inorganic Compounds to Understanding the Function of ATP · 2026 · DOIThe lack of a complementary topological heuristic to address the underlying physical ontology of molecular shape.
Dimensional Chemistry: The Geometric Origin of Molecular Orbitals, VSEPR Dynamics, and Nuclear Periodicity · 2026 · DOIFuture research can build on Wilkins' contributions to the field of physical chemistry. Researchers can explore new ways of mapping molecules in star-forming regions and infusing science with artwork.
The interview series identifies a gap in the physical chemistry community, highlighting the need for more personal stories and perspectives from researchers. Wilkins' story fills this gap by providing a unique perspective on her experiences and research interests.
The paper does not explicitly identify a research gap, but it highlights the need to extend research from animal models to human sexuality. It notes the importance of studying sexual function in humans, including erectile dysfunction and sexual arousal.
The lack of a resolution to the information paradox at the quantum level. The need for a model of quantum gravity for the exterior region of an odd-dimensional Kerr-AdS black hole. The requirement for a unitary equivalence between the Hilbert spaces and Hamiltonians of the interior and exterior regions.
Quantizing the Exterior Region of a Kerr-AdS Black Hole Leads to a Resolution of the Information Paradox on a Quantum Level · 2026 · DOIDespite IUPAC's recommendation to use the physics convention (dipole vector from negative to positive charge), the traditional chemistry convention remains unanimously followed in organic chemistry textbooks and has had only minor effect on general chemistry textbooks.
Electric dipole moment in chemistry: historical account and its representation in chemistry textbooks · 2025 · DOIFuture research could explore the connections between geometrical atomism and modern materials science. Future research could investigate the implications of geometrical atomism for contemporary scientific debates.
The paper identifies a gap in the history of chemistry, where geometrical atomism is not fully appreciated. The paper argues that the history of chemistry is incomplete without an understanding of geometrical atomism.
The lack of a clear and universally accepted method of nomenclature has hindered the development of coordination chemistry. The need for, and benefit of, identifying compounds on the basis of chemical constitution was not universally accepted.
While advances in microfluidic device manufacturing, superresolution imaging, and computational modeling of complex systems have enabled systems chemistry research, the paper does not specify validation methodologies or benchmarking standards needed to systematically characterize the behavior of interacting chemical networks away from equilibrium.
The paper does not specify which types of non-equilibrium systems (e.g., autocatalytic networks, dissipative structures, reaction-diffusion systems) should be prioritized for investigation or what specific emergent properties need characterization.
The mechanism of enzymatic anaerobic methane oxidation is unknown until now. Methanol, being more reactive than methane, is oxidized further, making it a challenge to achieve selective oxidation of methane to methanol.
The mechanism of enzymatic anaerobic methane oxidation is unknown until now. The problem of alkane activation was a white spot in the field of metal complex catalysis in the 1960s.
The gap in the current research is identified as the need for further experimentation and development of approaches to obtain and study supramolecular compounds. The direction is prospective, but is in the initial stage of accumulation of experimental data.
Land-use-change albedo forcing shows a cooling effect of −0.2 W m−2, but this aggregates diverse changes (deforestation, desertification, agricultural expansion) without specifying regional contributions or temporal dynamics since 1750. Satellite albedo time series linked to specific land-cover transitions are needed to validate these estimates.
There is a need for a suitable clinical biochemistry book for British students. There is a lack of comparison between different clinical biochemistry books.
By virtue of PFAS long residence times, they are widely detected in the environment, including remote locations such as the Arctics, where the origin of the PFAS is poorly understood.
The 1970 Red Book retained the name ferrum(III) chloride alongside modern iron(III) chloride nomenclature, acknowledging that ferrum(III) has never been used in practice, but no systematic analysis is provided of other obsolete nomenclature forms persisting in coordination chemistry recommendations and their actual usage prevalence in the literature.
The survey developed at Spring Hill may not have identified all important issues. The events and action plans discussed at Olympia were based on a limited survey.
Further studies on the application of Pauling's second rule to biological molecules. Investigation of the properties of phosphorus and its role in biological molecules.
Pauling’s Second Rule and Its Applications: From Inorganic Compounds to Understanding the Function of ATP · 2026 · DOIThe issue aims to cover areas of fundamental physical and synthetic organometallic chemistry as well as applications of organometallic chemistry in biological systems.
There is a need for a comprehensive understanding of climate change, - The paper identifies a gap in the understanding of the chemistry and physics of thermal…
Further development of the build/couple/pair method. The application of solid-phase supported reagents to other reactions. The synthesis of diverse libraries of small molecules for biomedical screening.
The paper identifies a gap in understanding the concept of chemistry in relationships. It highlights the importance of exploring this concept further.
Most-cited papers in History and advancements in chemistry
- The 17 United Nations’ sustainable development goals: a status by 2020 · International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology · 2021 · 359 citations
- Reappraisal of thermochemical radii for complex ions · Journal of Chemical Education · 1979 · 318 citations
- Electronic spectra of some transition metal complexes: Derivation of Dq and B · Journal of Chemical Education · 1968 · 268 citations
- A Linguistic Comparison of Letters of Recommendation for Male and Female Chemistry and Biochemistry Job Applicants · Sex Roles · 2007 · 245 citations
- Double effort = Double impact? A critical view at international co-authorship in chemistry · Scientometrics · 2001 · 210 citations
- Pharmaceutical Matters · Theory Culture & Society · 2005 · 177 citations
- ( Cr 2/3 Ti 1/3 ) 3 AlC 2 and ( Cr 5/8 Ti 3/8 ) 4 AlC 3 : New MAX ‐phase Compounds in Ti – Cr – Al – C System · Journal of the American Ceramic Society · 2013 · 175 citations
- Valence, Oxidation Number, and Formal Charge: Three Related but Fundamentally Different Concepts · Journal of Chemical Education · 2006 · 169 citations
- Purity, Impurity, and Separation · Signs · 1994 · 166 citations
- Intelligent Thermochromic Windows · Journal of Chemical Education · 2006 · 166 citations
Most recent work
- The scientific legacy of Martin Karplus from the perspective of his collaborators · Biophysical Journal · 2026
- The acid-base concept in modern supramolecular chemistry · Coordination Chemistry Reviews · 2026
- The early history of Hungarian quantum chemistry: From physics to applications in chemistry and biology · Advances in Quantum Chemistry · 2026
- Fifty-five years of quantum chemistry · Advances in Quantum Chemistry · 2026
- A modern “Skeptical chemist”: How Angelo Gavezzotti contributed to our understanding of molecular crystals · Structural Chemistry · 2026
- Pauling’s Second Rule and Its Applications: From Inorganic Compounds to Understanding the Function of ATP · Reports of NAS RA · 2026
- Dimensional Chemistry: The Geometric Origin of Molecular Orbitals, VSEPR Dynamics, and Nuclear Periodicity · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026
- The Seasons of a Career in Physical Chemistry: Olivia Harper Wilkins · ACS Physical Chemistry Au · 2026
- D-exp-MP01: PDL Structural Lacunae Confirmed by Materials Project Database Scan — Technetium and Promethium as Combinatorial Impossibilities (Projective Dynamic Logo Framework, Exploratory Document) · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026
- «European Research Materials» (June 4-5, 2026). Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2026. 308p · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026
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