Elements of Chemistry

by Antoine Lavoisier

Overview

The debt of modern chemistry to Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794) is incalculable. With Lavoisier's discoveries of the compositions of air and water (he gave the world the term 'oxygen') and his analysis of the process of combustion, he was able to bury once and for all the then prevalent phlogiston doctrine. He also recognized chemical elements as the ultimate residues of chemical analysis and, with others, worked out the beginnings of the modern system of nomenclature. His premature death at the hands of a Revolutionary tribunal is undoubtedly one of the saddest losses in the history of science.
Lavoisier's theories were promulgated widely by a work he published in 1789: Traité élémentairede Chimie. The famous English translation by Robert Kerr was issued a year later. Incorporating the notions of the "new chemistry," the book carefully describes the experiments and reasoning which led Lavoisier to his conclusions, conclusions which were generally accepted by the scientific community almost immediately. It is not too much to claim that Lavoisier's Traité did for chemistry what Newton's Principia did for physics, and that Lavoisier founded modern chemistry.
Part One of the Traité covers the composition of the atmosphere and water, and related experiments, one of which (on vinous fermentation) permits Lavoisier to make the first explicit statement of the law of the conservation of matter in chemical change. The second part deals with the compounds of acids with various bases, giving extensive tables of compounds. Its most significant item, however, is the table of simple substances or elements — the first modern list of the chemical elements. The third section of the book reviews in minute detail the apparatus and instruments of chemistry and their uses. Some of these instruments, etc. are illustrated in the section of plates at the end.
This new facsimile edition is enhanced by an introductory essay by Douglas McKie, University College London, one of the world's most eminent historians of science. Prof. McKie gives an excellent survey of historical developments in chemistry leading up to the Traité, Lavoisier's major contributions, his work in other fields, and offers a critical evaluation of the importance of this book and Lavoisier's role in the history of chemistry. This new essay helps to make this an authoritative, contemporary English-language edition of one of the supreme classics of science.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781514762479
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	06/30/2015
Pages:	262
Sales rank:	1,008,120
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.55(d)

Table of Contents

PART FIRST.
Of the Formation and Decomposition of Aëriform Fluids, of the Combustion of Simple Bodies, and the Formation of Acids
CHAP. I.Of the Combinations of Caloric, and the Formation of Elastic Aëriform Fluids or Gaffes
CHAP. II.General Views relative to the Formation and Composition of our Atmosphere
CHAP. III. Analysis of Atmospheric Air, and its Division into two Elastic Fluids ; one fit for Respiration, and the other incapable of being respired
CHAP. IV. Nomenclature of the several constituent Parts of Atmospheric Air
CHAP. V. Of the Decomposition of Oxygen Gas by Sulphur, Phosphorus, and Charcoal, and of the Formation of Acids in general
CHAP. VI. Of the Nomenclature of Acids in general, and particularly of those drawn from Nitre and Sea Salt
CHAP. VII. Of the Decomposition of Oxygen Gas by means of Metals, and the Formation of Metallic Oxyds
CHAP. VIII. Of the Radical Principle of Water, and of its Decomposition by Charcoal and Iron
CHAP. IX. Of the Quantities of Caloric disengaged from different Species of Combustion, Combustion of Phosphorus
SECT. I. Combustion of Charcoal
SECT. II. Combustion of Hydrogen Gas
SECT. III. Formation of Nitric Acid
SECT. IV. Combustion of Wax
SECT. V. Combustion of Olive Oil
CHAP. X. Of the Combustion of Combustible Substances with each other
CHAP. XI. Observations upon Oxyds and Acids with several Bases, and upon the Composition of Animal and Vegetable Substances
CHAP. XII. Of the Decomposition of Vegetable and Animal Substances by the Action of Fire
CHAP. XIII. Of the Decomposition of Vegetable Oxyds by the Vinous Fermentation
CHAP. XIV. Of the Putrefactive Fermentation
CHAP. XV. Of the Acetous Fermentation
CHAP. XVI. Of the Formation of Neutral Salts, and of their Bases
SECT. I. Of Potash
SECT. II. Of Soda
SECT. III. Of Ammoniac
SECT. IV. Of Lime, Magnesia, Barytes, and Argill
SECT. V. Of Metallic Bodies
CHAP. XVII. Continuation of the Observations upon Salisiable Bases, and the Formation of Neutral Salts
PART II. Of the Combinations of Acids with Salisiable Bases, and of the Formation of Neutral Salts
INTRODUCTION
TABLE of Simple Substances
SECT. I. Observations upon simple Substances
TABLE of Compound Oxydable and Acidisiable Bases
SECT. II. Observations upon Compound Radicals
SECT. III. Observations upon the Combinations of Light and Caloric with different Substances
TABLE of the Combinations of Oxygen with the Simple Substances, to face
SECT. IV. Observations upon these Combinations
TABLE of the Combinations of Oxygen with Compound Radicals
SECT. V. Observation upon these Combinations
TABLE of the Combinations of Azote with the Simple Substances
SECT. VI. Observations upon these Combinations of Azote
TABLE of the Combinations of Hydrogen with Simple Substances
SECT. VII. Observations upon Hydrogen, and its Combinations
TABLE of the Binary Combinations of Sulphur with the Simple Substances
SECT. VIII. Observations upon Sulphur, and its Combinations
TABLE of the Combinations of Phosphorous with Simple Substances
SECT. IX. Observations upon Phosphorous and its Combinations
TABLE of the Binary Combinations of Charcoal
SECT. X. Observations upon Charcoal, and its Combinations
SECT. XI. Observations upon the Muriatic, Fluoric, and Boracic Radicals, and their Combinations
SECT. XII. Observations upon the Combinations of Metals with each other
TABLE of the Combinations of Azote, in the State of Nitrous Acid, with the Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Azote, in the State of Nitric Acid, with the Salisiable Bases
SECT. XIII. Observations upon Nitrous and Nitric Acids, and their Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Sulphuric Acid with the Salisiable Bases
SECT. XIV. Observations upon Sulphuric Acid, and its Combinations
TABLE of the Combinations of Sulphurous Acid
SECT. XV. Observations upon Sulphurous Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Phosphorous and Phosphoric Acids
SECT. XVI. Observations upon Phosphorous and Phosphoric Acids, and their Combination with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Carbonic Acid
SECT. XVII. Observations upon Carbonic Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Muriatic Acid
TABLE of the Combinations of Oxygenated Muriatic Acid
SECT. XVIII. Observations upon Muriatic and Oxygenated Muriatic Acid, and their Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Nitro-Muriatic Acid
SECT. XIX. Observations upon Nitro-muriatic Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Fluoric Acid
SECT. XX. Observations upon Fluoric Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Boracic Acid
SECT. XXI. Observations upon Boracic Acid, and its Combinations with Sulisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Arseniac Acid
SECT. XXII. Observations upon Arseniac Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
SECT. XXIV. Observations upon Tungstic Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases, and a Table of these in the order of their Affinity
TABLE of the Combinations of Tartarous Acid
SECT. XXV. Observations upon Tartarous Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
SECT. XXVI. Observations upon Mallic Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Citric Acid
SECT. XXVII. Observations upon Citric Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Pyro-lignous Acid
SECT. XXVIII. Observations upon Pyro-lignous Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
SECT. XXIX. Observations upon Pyro-tartarous Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Pyro-mucous Acid
SECT. XXX. Observations upon Pyro-mucous Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Oxalic Acid
SECT. XXXI. Observations upon Oxalic Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Acetous Acid, to face
SECT. XXXII. Observations upon Acetous Acid, and its Combinations with the Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combination of Acetic Acid
SECT. XXXIII. Observations upon Acetic Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Succinic Acid
SECT. XXXIV. Observations upon Succinic Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
SECT. XXXV. Observations upon Benzoic Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
SECT. XXXVI. Observations upon Camphoric Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
SECT. XXXVII. Observations upon Gallic Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
SECT. XXXVIII. Observations upon Lactic Acid, and its Combinations with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Saccho-lactic Acid
SECT. XXXIX. Observations upon Saccho-lactic Acid, and its Combination with Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of Formic Acid
SECT. XL. Observations upon Formic Acid, and its Combinations with the Salisiable Bases
SECT. XLI. Observations upon the Bombic Acid, and its Combinations with the Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combinations of the Sebacic Acid
SECT. XLII. Observations upon the Sebacic Acid and its Combinations with the Salisiable Bases
SECT. XLIII. Observation upon the Lithic Acid, and its Combinations with the Salisiable Bases
TABLE of the Combination of the Prussic Acid
SECT. XLIV. Observations upon the Prussic Acid, and its Combinations with the Salisiable Bases
PART III.
Description of the Instruments and Operations of Chemistry
INTRODUCTION
CHAP. I. Of the Instruments necessary for determining the Absolute and Specific Gravities of Solid and Liquid Bodies
CHAP. II. Of Gazometry, or the Measurement of the Weight and Volume of Aëriform Substances
SECT. I. Of the Pneumato-chemical Apparatus
SECT. II. Of the Gazometer
SECT. III. Some other methods for Measuring the Volume of Gasses
SECT. IV. Of the method of Separating the different Gasses from each other
SECT. V. Of the necessary Corrections of the Volume of Gasses, according to the Pressure of the Atmosphere
SECT. VI. Of the Correction relative to the Degrees of the Thermometer
SECT. VII. Example for Calculating the Corrections relative to the Variations of Pressure and Temperature
SECT. VIII. Method of determining the Weight of the different Gasses
CHAP. III. Description of the Calorimeter, or Apparatus for measuring Caloric
CHAP. IV. Of the Mechanical Operations for Division of Bodies
SECT. I. Of Trituration, Levigation, and Pulverization
SECT. II. Of Sifting and Washing Powdered Substances
SECT. III. Of Filtration
SECT. IV. Of Decantation
CHAP. V. Of Chemical means for Separating the Particles of Bodies from each other without Decomposition, and for Uniting them again
SECT. I. Of the Solution of Salts
SECT. II. Of Lixivation
SECT. III. Of Evaporation
SECT. IV. Of Cristallization
SECT. V. Of Simple Distillation
SECT. VI. Of Sublimation
CHAP. VI. Of Pneumato-chemical Distillations, Metallic Dissolutions, and some other operations which require very complicated instruments
SECT. I. Of Compound and Pneumato-chemical Distillations
SECT. II. Of Metallic Dissolutions
SECT. III. Apparatus necessary in Experiments upon Vinous and Putresactive Fermentations
SECT. IV. Apparatus for the Decomposition of Water
CHAP. VII. Of the Composition and Use of Lutes
CHAP. VIII. Of Operations upon Combustion and Deslagration
SECT. I. Of Combustion in general
SECT. II. Of the Combustion of Phosphorus
SECT. III. Of the Combustion of Charcoal
SECT. IV. Of the Combustion of Oils
SECT. V. Of the Combustion of Alkohol
SECT. VI. Of the Combustion of Ether
SECT. VII. Of the Combustion of Hydrogen Gas, and the Formation of Water
SECT. VIII. Of the Oxydation of Metals
CHAP. IX. Of Deflagration
CHAP. X. Of the Instruments necessary for Operating upon Bodies in very high Temperatures
SECT. I. Of Fusion
SECT. II. Of Furnaces
SECT. III. Of increasing the Action of Fire, by using Oxygen Gas instead of Atmospheric Air
APPENDIX
No. I. TABLE for Converting Lines, or Twelfth Parts of an Inch, and Fractions of Lines, into Decimal Fractions of the Inch
No. II. TABLE for Converting the Observed Heighth of Water in the Jars of the Pneumato-Chemical Apparatus, expressed in Inches and Decimals, into Corresponding Heighths of Mercury
No. III. TABLE for Converting the Ounce Measures used by Dr. Priestley into French and English Cubical Inches
No. IV. TABLE for Reducing the Degrees of Reaumeur's Thermometer into its corresponding Degrees of Fahrenheit's Scale
No. V. ADDITIONAL RULES for Converting French Weights and Measures into correspondent English Denominations
No. VI. TABLE of Weights of the different Gasses, at 28 French inches, or 29.84 English inches barometrical pressure, and at 10° (54·5°) of temperature, expressed in English measure and English Troy weight
No. VII. TABLES of the Specific Gravities of different bodies
No. VIII. ADDITIONAL RULES for Calculating the Absolute Gravity in English Troy Weight of a Cubic Foot and Inch, English Measure, of any Substance whose Specific Gravity is known
No. IX. TABLES for Converting Ounces, Drams, and Grains, Troy, into Decimals of the Troy Pound of 12 Ounces, and for Converting Decimals of the Pound Troy into Ounces, &c.
No. X. TABLE of the English Cubical Inches and Decimals corresponding to a determinate Troy Weight of Distilled Water at the Temperature