This is a list of important publications in chemistry, organized by field.

Some reasons why a particular publication might be regarded as important:

• Topic creator – A publication that created a new topic
• Breakthrough – A publication that changed scientific knowledge significantly
• Introduction – A publication that is a good introduction or survey of a topic
• Influence – A publication which has significantly influenced the world
• Latest and greatest – The current most advanced result in a topic

Contents

1 Foundations 1.1 The Dependence Between the Properties of the Atomic Weights of the Elements 2 Organic chemistry 2.1 Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry 3 Inorganic chemistry 3.1 Chemical Applications of Group Theory 4 Physical chemistry 4.1 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics with Applications to Chemistry 4.2 The Nature of the Chemical Bond and the Structure of Molecules and Crystals; An Introduction to Modern Structural Chemistry 4.3 A Chemist's Guide to Density Functional Theory 5 Biochemistry 5.1 A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid 6 Analytical chemistry 7 Materials science 8 Polymer chemistry 9 Environmental chemistry 10 Pharmacology 10.1 Phenethylamines I Have Known And Loved: A Chemical Love Story (Pihkal: A Chemical Love Story) 10.2 Tryptamines I Have Known And Loved: The Chemistry Continues (Tihkal: The Continuation) 11 Thermochemistry 12 Nuclear chemistry 13 Electrochemistry 14 Computational Chemistry 15 Supramolecular chemistry 16 Medicinal chemistry 17 See also

Foundations

The Dependence Between the Properties of the Atomic Weights of the Elements

• Dmitri Mendeleev
• Zeitscrift für Chemie 12, 405-406 (1869)
• Online version (http://webserver.lemoyne.edu/faculty/giunta/EA/MENDELEEVann.HTML)

Description: In this paper the Periodic Table was introduced. Notice that the table in the above link is the original one. Since then the table structure was slightly changed and new elements were added to it.

Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough, Influence

Organic chemistry

Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry

• A.J. Hannaford, P.W.G. Smith, A.I. Vogel, A.R. Tatchell, B.S. Furnis
• Prentice Hall, 5th edition, 1996, ISBN 0582462363 (International Low-Cost Edition Available)

Description: Perhaps the most complete and pragmatic compendium of understanding and synthesizing organic chemical compounds.

Importance: Introduction, Influence

Inorganic chemistry

Chemical Applications of Group Theory

• F. Albert Cotton
• Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, 3rd Ed., 1990.

Description: The group theory book for chemists.

Importance:

Physical chemistry

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics with Applications to Chemistry

• Linus Pauling, E Bright Wilson
• New York, London, McGraw-Hill book company, 1935.

Description:

Importance:

The Nature of the Chemical Bond and the Structure of Molecules and Crystals; An Introduction to Modern Structural Chemistry

• Linus Pauling
• Ithaca, N.Y., London, Cornell University Press; H. Milford, Oxford University Press, 1940.

Description:

Importance:

A Chemist's Guide to Density Functional Theory

• Wolfram Koch, Max Holthausen
• Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, 2nd Ed., 2001.

Description: Wonderful overview of DFT for theorists and interested organic chemists.

Importance:

Biochemistry

A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid

• Watson and Crick
• Nature 171, 737-738 (1953) © Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
• Online version (http://www.nature.com/genomics/human/watson-crick/)

Description: In this paper the structure of DNA was proposed. It consisted of a double helix with a phosphate backbone, unlike Linus Pauling and R.B. Corey's double helix where the backbone consisted of the bases. They conclude with the sly remark: "It has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material."

Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough, Influence

Analytical chemistry

Materials science

Polymer chemistry

Environmental chemistry

Pharmacology

subclass, Psychopharmacology

Phenethylamines I Have Known And Loved: A Chemical Love Story (Pihkal: A Chemical Love Story)

• Alexander and Ann Shulgin
• ISBN 0963009605, Transform Press, 1991. aka PiHKAL

Description: Half novel, story of exploration, the other, organic chemistry, effects, sysntheses, data. The technical sections are online (http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/pihkal/pihkal.shtml).

Importance: State of the art.

Tryptamines I Have Known And Loved: The Chemistry Continues (Tihkal: The Continuation)

• Alexander and Ann Shulgin
• ISBN 0963009699, Transform Press, 1997. aka TiHKAL

Description: The technical sections are online (http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/tihkal/tihkal.shtml).

Importance: State of the art.

Thermochemistry

Nuclear chemistry

Electrochemistry

Computational Chemistry

Supramolecular chemistry

Medicinal chemistry

See also

• List of publications in science