Special thanks go to Pamela Cannon for her love, patience, and assistance 

 over the last year. Pam did an extraordinary job of typing in tables for hours at a 

 time as I sifted through data looking for additional compounds to insert into those 

 tables. I wish to also thank Jesse Cannon for spending hours learning the elements 

 of the periodic table, including exact masses, during his summer vacation. I probably 

 had more fun quizzing him than he did learning. Finally, my greatest thanks are 

 extended to my mother, who has stood by me through everything I have done in my 

 life. She always encouraged me to obtain more education; I am certainly 

 appreciative of her effort, especially now that I am near the completion of this 

 degree. 



HI 



