Discovery of Room Temperature Ionic Liquid P C Ray versus P Walden

[EtNH3](+)(NG3(-)) is generally considered as the first reported room temperature ionic liquid which was synthesized and characterized by Paul Walden in 1914. But the present investigation finds that [EtNH3](+)(NG3(-)), a similar kind of ionic salt which is liquid at room temperature, was synthesized by Sir P C Ray three years earlier (in 1911) to Walden. Unfortunately, the latter work had not been paid any attention for more than a century because of unknown reasons. As per literature review, henceforth, Sir P C Ray and his coauthor (J N Rakshit) of that very particular synthesis of the ionic compound which was liquid at room temperature should be regarded as the discoverer of room temperature ionic liquid.

Automated summary

Recent investigation reveals that Sir P C Ray synthesized a room temperature ionic liquid similar to [EtNH3](+)(NG3(-)) three years before Paul Walden in 1911. Despite this, Sir P C Ray's work remained unnoticed for over a century due to unknown reasons.