Table of contents

Characteristic features of the crystal structures of mercury oxohalides, chalcohalides and related compounds are surveyed. The structures of these compounds are described using both the traditional way and a modern approach based on the identification of stable building blocks coupled with the analysis of their packing. The crystallographic and crystal chemical data for the title compounds are given.

Methods of synthesis of highly dispersed inorganic materials based on the use of ultrasonic treatment are considered. Particular attention is paid to current trends in sonochemistry, namely, ultrasonic hydrothermal treatment and high-temperature ultrasonic processing of liquid- and solid-phase systems.

The results of studies of the catalytic oxidation of organic compounds in the presence of molten transition metal salts and oxides are surveyed. The attention is focused on extensive oxidation of halogen-containing compounds.

The use of tetrazolium salts for extraction, spectrophotometric and potentiometric determination of various elements and ions is described. The optimum conditions for extraction of tetrazolium ion-associated complexes are analysed. Chromogenic and other systems derived from tetrazolium salts and their applications in the analysis of industrial and natural samples are discussed.

The review summarises data on the synthesis and functionalisation of gold nanoparticles and their applications in biological investigations. Particular attention is given to applications of colloidal gold in solid-phase assays, immunoassay and studies of biologically active compounds by vibrational spectroscopy. A special section deals with the use of gold nanoparticles as antigen carriers in immunisation.