Challenging classical chemistry—new sodium chloride compounds discovered

In a study that challenges the fundamental rules of classical chemistry, W. Zhang et al. have published their predictions and experiments on compressing sodium chloride (under 200,000 atm) to form new compounds. The authors report compounds that violate textbook rules—NaCl₃, NaCl₇, Na₃Cl₂, Na₂Cl, and Na₃Cl. These compounds validate co-author A. Oganov’s methodology for predicting the properties of objects—a methodology now used worldwide for computational material discovery—and hold the promise of novel materials and applications. Read more in Science.

W Zhang et al., Science, 2013. DOI: 10.1126/science.1244989