Abstract
[EtNH3]+(NG −3 ) is generally considered as the first reported room temperature ionic liquid which was synthesized and characterized by Paul Walden in 1914. But the present investigation finds that [EtNH3]+(NG −3 ), a similar kind of ionic salt which is liquid at room temperature, was synthesized by Sir P C Rây three years earlier (in 1911) to Walden. Unfortunately, the latter work had not been paid any attention for more than a century because of unknown reasons. As per literature review, henceforth, Sir P C Rây and his coauthor (J N Rakshit) of that very particular synthesis of the ionic compound which was liquid at room temperature should be regarded as the discoverer of room temperature ionic liquid.
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Rajarshi Ghosh is associated with post graduation teaching and research in the Department of Chemistry, The University of Burdwan. His research interest covers synthetic coordination chemistry, bio inspired catalysis, biological inorganic chemistry, etc. Besides these, he is also interested in science popularization.
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Ghosh, R. Discovery of Room Temperature Ionic Liquid. Reson 26, 241–244 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12045-021-1122-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12045-021-1122-3