Dry chemistry and initiatory thermodynamics at the metallurgical laboratory

The Dry Chemistry Group under Professor Glenn T. Seaborg's direction in the New Chemistry site of the Metallurgical Laboratory were involved not only in the isolation of elementary plutonium but as well in the study of its phase behavior and physical properties of the several metallic phases. In addition, the production of simple binary compounds (e.g., hydrides, nitrides, silicides, etc.) were pursued--and all of this was done on the microgram scale. When the pressure of metal production was less demanding, attention was turned (at the instigation of Professor Wendel M. Latimer) to the thermochemistry of uranium and the transuranium elements. Other related thermodynamic problems such as the volatilization of BaO were subsequently subjects of concern. Anecdotal, pictorial, and historical aspects--as well as scientific matters--will be featured. Comparison with more recent developments in these still crucial aspects of nuclear energy application will also be obtained