ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 is a review of foundational concepts which are used throughout the book. Included are bonding in metals, ionic compounds and covalent compounds. Oxidation numbers illustrate whether oxidation–reduction has occurred in chemical reactions. Chemical mechanisms are featured throughout the book, to illustrate that reactions generally occur in several steps. Further, if the structures of reactants and products are known, then it is possible to rationalize how the transformation takes place based on reaction conditions and experimental data. The mechanistic approach is applied to seemingly disparate aspects involving art materials, e.g., synthesis of pigments, discoloration/aging of paint and toxicological effects. In addition, experimental methods used by art conservationists are presented which are usually not included in the first and second years of college chemistry. The spectroscopic methods include X-ray absorption, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra. Familiarity of infrared spectroscopy is assumed. Electrochemical methods are used to detect oxidation–reduction in photo-sensitive pigments which have been exposed to light.
