34 Bull. Hist. Chem. 5 (1989)
6. A. . v r, El nt f Ch tr , tr n . . K rr, r p b l t n f th f r t d t n f 0, th n ntr d t n b . M K , v r, Y r , 6 , p. . . A. n v n, " v r nd th Or n f M d Ch tr ," O r , 1988, 4, 2 4 2 . 8. . G. M Ev , "C nt n t nd nt n t n th Ch l v l t n," O r , 1988, 4, 2 . . . S. d nt t . M K , l 2, np bl h d l tt r.
Dr. A. Truman Schwartz is Professor ofChemistry at Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105. His original talk was accompanied by a set of beautiful color slides of Lavoisier's apparatus taken at the Musée des Techniques, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métre in Paris, which we are unfortunately unable to reproduce within the limits of the Bulletin's current format.
BOOKS OF THE CHEMICAL REVOLUTION
Part III: Traité Élémentaire de Chimie
Ben B. Chastain, Samford University Academy of Sciences. In it, he gave the background of the The revolution of modern chemistry was a process, not an suggested reforms, and credited those in the past who had event. There is no Bastille Day to point to as the seminal worked on nomenclature, including Macquer in France for his occurrence from which it grew. The fact that 1989 has been the 1766 Dictionnaire de Chimie, Bergman in Sweden for his 1784 year chosen for its bicentennial celebration is in no small part scherne for classifying and naming minerals, and especially due to the publication in March 1789, in Paris, of the Traité Guyton de Morveau, whose 1782 paper formed the basis for Élémentaire de Chimie by Antoine Lavoisier. It is certainly the the new system. Lavoisier praised Guyton for his willingness most widely known "book of the revolution". Professor to sacrifice his own ideas and pr v work to the present Douglas McKie, among others, has claimed that Lavoisier's collaboration. He described the conferences of the four au- Traité did for chemistry what Newton's Principia had done for thors, conferences which ranged over the whole of chemistry physics a century before (1). as well as the rnetaphysics of language, as being quite free of Earlier papers in this series presented the Méthode de personal considerations. The rest of the paper dealt mainly Nomenclature Chimique of 1787 as the lexicon of the revolu- with the ideas of the Abbé Bonnot de Condillac on the impor- tion; and the third edition of Fourcroy's Élémens d' Histoire tance of language, with quotes such as "We only reason well Nature lle et de Chimie, published in December 1788, as its first or reason badly in so far as our language is well or badly textbook (2). By the spring of 1789 the Méthode had already constructed ..." and "The progress of the sciences depends been translated into English and Spanish, and at least summa- entirely on the progress of their languages". rized in Italian; the earlier editions of the Élémens had also According to the preface to the Traité, it was Lavoisier's been widely disseminated, and the new material of the third intention only to "extend and explain" this paper on nomencla- edition had already appeared in English as well as French. ture when he began the work which grew into the Traité These two books, then, were at work spreading the revolution Élémentaire de Chimie, presente dans un ordre nouveau et when the r té appeared on the scene. This paper will briefly d' apres las decouvertes modernes ( . His extension and discuss this third book, and its relationship to the previous two. explanation became a book which might be described as both We should recall that Lavoisier's contribution to the 1787 a manifesto for the Chemical Revolution and a manual for new Méthode consisted of the text of a paper which he had pre- revolutionaries. sented in April of that year to a public meeting of the French A manifesto is a public declaration, made by a person or ll. t. Ch . 5 ( 8 group claiming important status or taking important actions, modern chemistry and a manifesto-like statement. which sets forth the reasons, motives, or objects of their claim. Parenthetically, let us note that in this same section he says: Indeed, Lavoisier had written in his notebooks in 1773 that his researches seemed "destined to bring about a revolution in It ht t b n d r d th t v r l ttl f h tr n b l rn d physics and in chemistry", and perhaps the Traité can be seen n f r t r , h h h rdl ff nt t th l n f th as his public declaration that the revolution was taking place n familiar t th r , r th pp r t f l r t th . It and the new chemistry was overthrowing the old. Especially l t p bl t b h t n l th n thr r f r r in the Preface and in the first section of the book, he sets forth f n t nt ppl t n. the motivation and approach which led to the revolution and details the steps taken to bring it about. And that's 200 years ago, with no remedial work or general In the Preface we find this commentary on the "study and liberal arts curriculum! practice of the sciences" (pp. xvii-xviii): Another important principle of the new chemistry is also stated in the preface (p. xxiv): I n t n, h h v r nd r n b nd th b nd f tr th, j n d t lf l v nd th t lf nf d n r pt t nd l , All th t n b d p n th n b r nd n t r f l nt , n pr pt t dr n l n h h r n t d t l d r v d p n n, nf n d t d n nt r l f t ph l n t r ... fr f t th t b n r nt r t d n d v n If, b th t r l nt , n t xpr th pl nd r lv . n t b n n t b nd r d th t, n th n nd v bl t f h h tt r p d, t xtr l f ph n n r l, n h v ft n d pp t n , n t d f pr b bl n n th n t ll b t th b t, f ppl th t r f r n n l n . h pp t n , h nd d d n fr n l nt , r pr n pl f b d , t xpr r d f th l t p nt t n th r, r dd t n l ht fr th th r t b h h h h n l p bl f r h n , t d t l nt ll th r pp rt d, t ll t l t th r r v d, v n b n f n , th b t n nt h h r p bl , b n n , t r d f nd nt l tr th . h nl th d f pr v nt n h rr r b d b d p t n. t n pl , nd f rr t n th h n f r d, t r tr n nd pl f r r n n h p bl ... W t tr t t It is the application of this principle which leads to the "Table n th n b t f t th r pr nt d t b t r , nd nn t of Simple Substances" found at the beginning of the second d v ... I h v p d p n lf, l , n v r t dv n b t part of the book (p. 175), frequently called the first list of the fr h t n n t h t n n n n v r t f r n n l n elements, and cited by Douglas McKie in his biography of h h n t n d t n n n r l fl n fr Lavoisier as "the most revolutionary feature of the Traité." b rv t n nd xp r nt ... One more quote from the preface, dealing with part one (pp. xxxiii-xxxiv): Here, then, is a basic principle of the approach to be taken in ... h t ll l p r v th t, n th f r t p rt f r , I v r l ttl f n xp r nt b t th h h r d b lf: If t n t I h v d pt d, th t n l d nt, th xp r nt r th p n n f M. rth ll t, M. r r , M. d l l , M. M n , r, n n r l, f n f th h pr n pl r th th n, t n t th r t n , th t fr nt nt r r , nd th h b t f n t n r d , r b rv t n , nd r f th n n t h th r, h t bl h d b t n rt f n t f p n n , n h h t ft n d ff lt f r v r n t n h n.
This may have some bearing on the later insistence of Lavoisier that the new theory was his alone, and not that of "the French chemists" as was said by some (4). The first part of the Traité, entitled "Of the Formation and Decomposition of Aeriform Fluids, - of the Combustion of Simple Bodies, and the Formation of Acids" is in effect a summary of the researches of Lavoisier (and perhaps some others) over the period 1773-1788, arranged in such an order "as shall render it most easy for beginners in the study of Ant n r nt v r chemistry thoroughly to understand them" (p. xviii). 6 ll. t. Ch . 5 ( 8
It describes in detail many experiments which reveal the t b l v th t th pr d fr th r b n lr d t r t d th composition of the atmosphere, of water, and of acids and th t l nt. If , th ll f ll t b n d r d p nd bases. In a chapter on vinous fermentation we find the first n t n f pl b t n , p rh p t ll , x d t d t application of the law of conservation of matter to chemical rt n d r . changes (p. 130): He also notes that "the fixed alkalies, potash and soda, are W l t d n n n nt t bl x th t, n ll th omitted in the foregoing Table, because they are evidently p r t n f rt nd t r , n th n r t d n l nt t f cornpound substances, though we are ignorant as yet what are tt r x t b th b f r nd ft r th xp r nt th l t nd the elements they are composed of " (p. 178). This table, with nt t f th l nt r n pr l th nd n th n t its caveats, perhaps deserves to be regarded as the first list of pl b nd h n nd d f t n n th b n t n f th the chemical elements. l nt . Up n th pr n pl th h l rt f p rf r n h l The third section of the Traité is what I have chosen to call xp r nt d p nd ... the manual of the revolution, instructions for do-it-yourself "new chemistry". Its title is "Description of the Instruments Later in the same chapter he points to a consequence of this and Operations of Chemistry"; its purpose is explained in the principle, the chemical equation (p. 140): Preface (p. xxxv):
W n d r th b t n b tt d t f r nt t n, nd th h th d f p rf r n xp r nt , nd p rt l rl th f pr d t r lt n fr th t p r t n, f r n n l br d rn h tr , n t n r ll n n t ht t b nd h d t n nd, b v l pp n h f th l nt n th I, n th d ff r nt r h h I h v pr nt d t th A d , t n n n n, n l l t th r v l n n, nd b n r p rt l r n th d t l f th n p l t n f th v r f r xp r nt b l l t n, nd r l l t n b xp r nt , t pr b bl I h ld h v d lf b tt r nd r xp r nt r pr ll . t d, nd th n ht h v d r r p d pr r .
This first part, then, comprises the essentials of the new He adds: "I need hardly mention that this part could not be chemistry, and, taken with the preface, might be considered the borrowed from any other work, and that, in the principal manifesto of the revolution, in the words of the premier articles it contains, I could not derive assistance from anything revolutionary. but the experiments which I have made myself." The middle section of the Traité, entitled "Of the Combina- The plates, originally drawn by Mme. Lavoisier, are beau- tions of Acids with Salifiable Bases, and of the Formation of tifully detailed; comparison with some of the actual pieces of Neutral Salts", contains little that is new, and in Lavoisier's apparatus (which can still be seen at the Musée des Techniques own words "nothing which I can call my own". It is chiefly in Paris) attest to their accuracy. One interested in doing so tables of the new nomenclature for salts, and the acids and should have been able to construct such apparatus and repro- bases from which they are made. Its most noted feature is the duce the results given in the book. As aids to this end, aforementioned "Table of Simple Substances" (p. 175). It is appendices give various unit conversions, densities of several shorter than the corresponding table in the 1787 Méthode, gases, and specific gravities for a large number of substances. lacking the list of organic radicals (which Lavoisier had As has been pointed out by several writers, Lavoisier's decided were made of carbon and hydrogen.) It contains 33 Traité is really not a textbook for beginners in chemistry (4); items, 23 of which we still consider elements - 17 metals, its limited scope and research approach make it less valuable oxygen, hydrogen, azote (nitrogen), sulphur, phosphorus, and in that regard than Fourcroy's Élémens or others that came charcoal (carbon). Also listed are light and caloric (heat), along - Chaptal's, for instance (5). Nevertheless, it was re- which Lavoisier still felt to be substances; three acid radicals printed a number of times in France, and translated into many - muriatic, fluoric, and boracic (derived from chlorine, fluo- other languages. Its place, and its author's, in the history of rine, boron); and five "earthy substances" - lime, magnesia, chemistry are quite secure. It has been for these 200 years barytes, argill (alumina), and silex. Once again the author emblematic of the revolution of modern chemistry. But in cautions the reader (p. 177): promoting the spread of that revolution, it shares credit with at least two other influential volumes, and joins them on my th th n t pr nt pp pl n b f nd t "Revolutionary Bookshelf". There we find the lexicon of the th r . All d r v nt r t ff r f n b t n , th t t revolution, its first textbook, and its manifesto/manual - wor- t b n d r d pl n th pr nt t t f r n l d ... thy to be remembered and celebrated by chemists in this W v n pr th t th rth t n t b n d bicentennial year or, for that matter, in any other year. r d pl b d th r th nl b d f th l f bl l h h h v n t nd n t n t th x n nd I h n l n d Bull. t. Ch . ( 8
f r n nd t
. . M K , Ant n v r: S nt t, E n t, S l f r r, S h n, Y, 2 p. 2 4. h n f th b t "p p l r" b r ph f v r n En l h. 2. . Ch t n, " f th Ch l v l t n", ll. t. Ch ., 1989, 3, nd 1989, 4, 8 . . A. v r, El nt f Ch tr , v r, Y, 6 , p. x . h n n br d d r p bl t n f th 0 tr n l t n b b rt K rr, r n ll p bl h d b W . Cr h n Ed nb r h. It nt n v l bl ntr d t r b l M K . It t ll n pr nt. 4. S . S fr d, " h Ch l v l t n n th t r f Ch tr ", O r , 1988, 4, . . . A. Ch pt l, Élé n d Ch , M ntp ll r, 0.
r. n Ch t n Ch r n f th p rt nt f Ch tr f S f rd Un v r t , r n h , A 22 nd nt r t d n th r t b f h tr . h rt l pl t h thr p rt r n th " f th Ch l v l t n."
THE INGENIOUS, LIVELY AND CELEBRATED MRS. FULHAME AND THE DYER'S HAND r t A r n d t n f Mr . lh b . r A. v np rt nd K thl n M. Ir l nd, rd Un v r t I nd d t n n th nv t t n nd t b h r xp r nt th t t f th f r n xp r nt r t d. nt r v n t h l r h p t ll ll th t 4 r l r f r b th Ant n v r nd ph r tl h l th n r ll h r t bl r tl r p d (4 : (I . It l r l r f r th l ft n l br t d Mr . lh th nt r tt nt l b r f l t 4 r l ...h r th r f n f l, nd f b l , th t r f th ph n x t lf. n t d n th p bl t n f h r E n C b t n th v t Art f n nd nt n h r n th hl t t t n t h h . . rt n t n dd d th v n l nd Ant phl t p th r r v d Err n (2 . h h r t bl nd t r t t f tn t ( : E t pr v Mr . lh nl p bl t n nd h t l ttl n f h r t b nf rr d fr th d n r t h ph n x, t b n t d, f b l b rd r rd d xl . pr f nd fr th f p r n l r f r n n th b d f th b . A th Sh p r nn t nd th r l v l d : h E r v d v r l r v n r n h j rn l , n , b C nd t, r nn n t 2 p th d t l d h pt r b h pt r M n t r bd d r (6 . A G r n tr n l t n pp r d n 8 nd, h t t r n, l th d r h nd h ll , n A r n d t n n 8 0. t th n nd h I r r n d. h n f th b d r b d n th pr f :
t th t th b t p nn t d. h n r ll h p b l t f n l th f ld, lv r, nd th r t l b n n r C nt f rd n d d ( : h l pr , rr d t n th r 80 th pr j t b n nt n d t t r lh nd fr nd , d d pr b h r p rf tl th th r lt f l r xp r nt b th bl . v r, ft r t , I h d th t f t n f r l z n th n n nd l v l Mr . lh . It n r d n h r b th t d n d r b xp r nt.