Chapter I: Preface

I have endeavoured in this book to keep to the lines laid down for me by the Publication Committee of the Society, viz. "to exhibit, by selected biographies, the progress of chemistry from the beginning of the inductive method until the present time." The progress of chemistry has been made the central theme; around this I have tried to group short accounts of the lives of those who have most assisted this progress by their labours.

This method of treatment, if properly conducted, exhibits the advances made in science as intimately connected with the lives and characters of those who studied it, and also impresses on the reader the continuity of the progress of natural knowledge.

The lives of a few chemists have been written; of others there are, however, only scanty notices to be found. The materials for this book have been collected chiefly from the following works:--

Kopp's "Geschichte der Chemie."

Thomson's "History of Chemistry."

Ladenburg's "Entwickelungsgeschichte der Chemie."

Wurtz's "History of the Atomic Theory."

Watts's "Dictionary of Chemistry."

Whewell's "History of the Inductive Sciences."

Rodwell's "Birth of Chemistry;" "Inquiry into the
Hermetic Mystery and Alchemy" (London, 1850); "Popular
Treatises on Science written during the Middle Ages,"
edited for the Historical Society of Science by Thomas
Wright, M.A. (London, 1841); "Ripley Reviv'd; or, An
Exposition upon Sir George Ripley's Hermetico-Poetical
Works," by Eirenaeus Philalethes (London, 1678); "Tripus
Aureus, hoc est Tres Tractates Chymici Selectissimi"
(Frankfurt, 1618).

"Alchemy;" article in "Encyclopaedia Britannica."

Boyle's "Sceptical Chymist."

"Biographie Universelle;" for notices of Berzelius and
Lavoisier.

"English Cyclopaedia;" for notices of Black, Berzelius
and Lavoisier.

Black's "Lectures," with Memoir: edited by Dr.
Robinson.

Priestley's "Memoirs:" written partly by himself.

Priestley's works on "Air," etc.

Lavoisier's "Oeuvres."

Dalton's "Life," by Dr. Henry; "Life," by Dr. R. Angus
Smith; "New System of Chemical Philosophy."

Davy's "Collected Works;" with Life, by his brother;
"Life," by Dr. Paris.

Berzelius's "Lehrbuch," and various dissertations.

Woehler's "Jugenderinnerungen eines Chemikers."

Graham's "Collected Memoirs."

Sketch of Graham's life, in Chemical Society's Journal.

"Life-Work of Liebig," by A. W. Hofmann.

"Dumas," by A. W. Hofmann.

Various dissertations by Liebig and Dumas in _Annalen_,
and elsewhere.

My warmest thanks are due to my friend, Mr. Francis Rye, for the great assistance he has given me in correcting the proof-sheets.

M. M. PATTISON MUIR.

CAMBRIDGE, _April, 1883_.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

INTRODUCTORY 1

CHAPTER I.

ALCHEMY: AND THE DAWN OF CHEMISTRY.

Beginnings of natural knowledge--Chemistry in the
Middle Ages--Alchemy--The phlogistic theory 5

CHAPTER II.

ESTABLISHMENT OF CHEMISTRY AS A SCIENCE--PERIOD OF BLACK, PRIESTLEY AND LAVOISIER.

Introduction of accurate measurements into
chemistry--Black's researches on alkalis and on fixed
air--His conception of heat--Priestley's experiments on
airs--His discovery of oxygen--Lavoisier, the founder
of the science of chemistry--He clearly establishes a
connection between composition and properties of bodies 30

CHAPTER III.

ESTABLISHMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CHEMICAL SCIENCE--PERIOD OF DALTON.

Dalton's training in physical science--He revives and
renders quantitative the atomic theory--The term "atom"
is applied by him to elements and compounds alike--His
rules for chemical synthesis 106

CHAPTER IV.

ESTABLISHMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CHEMICAL SCIENCE (_continued_)--PERIOD OF DAVY AND BERZELIUS.

Electro-chemistry--The dualistic theory developed by
Berzelius--Davy's work on acids, alkalis, and salts--He
proves chlorine to be an element--His discovery of the
safety-lamp 155

CHAPTER V.

THE WORK OF GRAHAM.

Graham traces the movements of molecules--He
distinguishes between colloids and
cystalloids--Dialysis 232

CHAPTER VI.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY--PERIOD OF LIEBIG AND DUMAS.

The barrier between inorganic and organic chemistry
begins to be broken down--Woehler prepares urea--Dumas
opposes the dualistic system of Berzelius--Liebig's
conception of compound radicles--His work in animal and
agricultural chemistry 252

CHAPTER VII.

MODERN CHEMISTRY.

The relations between composition and properties of
bodies are developed and rendered more
definite--Physical methods are more largely made use of
in chemistry--Spectroscopic analysis 294