On shapes, molecules and models: An insight into chemical methodology

Abstract

A review. Insight into chem. conceptual foundations shows that a powerful, autonomous chem. methodol. exists which is based on visualization and association of chem. "building blocks". Such methodol. has been expanded by the use of incommensurable theories resulting from the interplay of quantum mechanics and heuristic chem. concepts, resulting in models of great utility as predictive tools in guiding the creation of new and useful substances. Understanding such historical development has real benefits to chem. practitioners, be they researchers, analysts or chem. educators.