• A unitary model for atomic structure •

There are three papers in the series. They deal with a new proposal for atomic structure. The papers describe the application of the new model to the atomic structures of Carbon, Silicon and Boron. They have the distinction of explaining the covalent geometry of these elements on a non-Quantum mechanical basis. The paper on Carbon was submitted to the British Journal Polyhedron in July 1990. The Editor’s letter of 20th August 1990 said:

“The paper is not suitable for publication in Polyhedron because it does not deal with new work and discoveries in Inorganic Chemistry. The paper rationalizes a number of known structures of molecules containing carbon and it would be more suitable for a general publication or one of an educational character.”

The method was extended to Silicon, Boron and Nitrogen. In the last case we got tantalizing experimental result with commercial potential.

In June 2003 a combined paper on Carbon and Silicon was submitted to the Journal of the American Chemical Society. I am giving below the comment from the Editor.

W. T. Borden, Associate Editor, JACS wrote:

“Dear Dr. Balasubramanian: I have carefully read your manuscript; and, although I think that it certainly should be published, I do not believe that JACS is the proper place to publish it. In one sense, JACS is a very conservative journal of general chemistry; and manuscripts that question the fundamental assumptions of current chemical theory are referred to more physical journals. Therefore, I am not sending your manuscript out for review.”

Physicists in general professed ignorance of chemistry and refused to comment on the papers.