Nehemiah Grew (1641–1712) and the Saline Chymistry of Plants

Abstract

In a series of lectures appended to his magisterial Anatomy of Plants (1682), Nehemiah Grew (1641–1712) explained the results of his own research into the saline chemistry of plants, following an established tradition in early modern chemistry. Members of the Royal Society such as Daniel Coxe were heavily involved in researching salt chemistry in the latter part of the seventeenth century, analysing the role of salts in spa waters, physiology, and as a fundamental element in iatrochemistry. Such researches of Royal Society members were often based upon the chemistry of Johann Van Helmont (1577–1634). As this paper will demonstrate, Grew's work drew from his microscopic research to elaborate and question some of Coxe's and hence Van Helmont's ideas about the principles of matter. Grew also used the results of his chemical research to draw conclusions about plant structure and colour, and applied his results to other areas in natural history such as meteorology, illustrating that chemistry was the basic analytical tool for seventeenth-century investigators of anatomy and natural history.     

Materials,Furnaces, and Texts: How to Write About Making Glass Colours in the Seventeenth Century

Johann Kunckel's Ars Vitraria Experimentalis (1679) is arguably the most important text on seventeenth-century glassmaking. As an augmented German translation of Italian (1612) and English (1662) editions, Kunckel presented a complex and layered text that contained a plethora of recipes, elaborate commentaries and annotations, and various appendices dealing with glass-related technologies and arts. We reworked four recipes for rosichiero glass (a transparent red glass) in Kunckel's book to discover what strategies Kunckel employed to help readers engage with the recipes and to make the recipes work in the specificity of their own workshop. We learned that Kunckel regularly neglected to test the Italian recipes, and that not all of his corrections are improvements, thereby specifying our understanding of the “codification of error” as a strategy to write down colour-making knowledge. Instead, Kunckel made the choice to educate his readers on the very mechanisms of glass colouring to allow them to intervene to influence the colour of the glass and to gain further control over the making process. He argued that the colour of glass is sensitive to the manner in which ingredients are sourced and processed, and emphasised the importance of furnace management in optimising the colour of glass.     

Humphry Davy: Analogy,Priority, and the “true philosopher”

This essay explores how Davy fashioned himself as, what he called in his poetry, a “true philosopher.” He defined the “true philosopher” as someone who eschewed monetary gain for his scientific work, preferring instead to give knowledge freely for the public good, and as someone working at a higher level than the mere experimentalist. Specifically, Davy presented himself as using the method of analogy to reach his discoveries and emphasised that he understood the “principle” behind his findings. He portrayed himself as one who perceived analogies because he had a wider perspective on the world than many others in his society. The poem in which he describes the “true philosopher” offers us Davy’s private view of this character; the essay then demonstrates how Davy attempted to depict his own character in this way during critical moments in his career.     

The ‘Sceptical Chemist’– Fundamental concepts in the history of the scientific process of chemical education

The 17th century was witness to scientific chemistry’s emergence from the odd experiments of alchemy. We cannot ascertain its precise date of birth, we can, however, its precise date of christening: in 1661 “The Sceptical Chymist”, the first classical work in the history of chemistry was published by Robert Boyle. Boyle called his chemistry »sceptical« because he had made up his mind to leave aside all mystical explanations and occult attributes as the holy shrine of ignorance. Since those days concepts and theories have been constantly refined under the eyes of the »sceptical chemist« in dialogue with nature. In terms of methodology and concepts the path of recognition was laid down in advance by a contemporary of R. Boyle. It has led in a spiro-cyclical style right up to the end of the 20th century: the principle of the sciences of the 17th century mutated from “corso/ricorso” of then to the “recycling” of today. This principle is discussed.     

Alchemy,Prophecy, and Politics in Eighteenth-Century Iberia: Anselmo Castelo Branco's Critique of Benito Feijoo

The Benedictine monk Benito Jerónimo Feijoo (1676–1764) is now considered one of the major figures of the Spanish and Iberian Enlightenment. However his work, both in Spain and in Portugal, was far from being universally acclaimed. His critical approach to the subject of alchemy in his essay “Piedra Filosofal,” published in the third volume of his magisterial Teatro Crítico Universal (1726–1739), sparked an unexpected response from the Portuguese alchemist Anselmo Castelo Branco, who sought to refute Feijoo's claims in his own work, the Ennoea. This paper presents an outline of this exchange and its position within Iberian Enlightenment circles. It further argues that Castelo Branco's defence of alchemy was informed by his political and prophetic views, in particular his adherence to the Portuguese messianic doctrine of Sebastianism.     

R. B. Woodward: A Larger‐than‐Life Chemistry Rock Star

To mark the 100th birthday of R. B. Woodward (April 10, 1917–July 8, 1979), a discussion and analysis of Woodward's persona is given. The fundamental theme is that “Woodward experienced his own exceptionality,” as described by Albert Eschenmoser, Woodward's partner in the vitamin B₁₂ project. Woodward's rock star personality is explored and discussed as one of his legacies in addition to his scientific achievements. Woodward presented himself to his students, colleagues, and fellow chemists with an aura of nobility and romanticism.     

Science + Fiction: Isaac Asimov zum 15. Todestag

“A science fiction story is a story [...] which would not have happened at all without its scientific content.” This definition by science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon uniquely characterizes Isaac Asimov's work of fiction. His scientific knowledge and his exceptional power of creation had strong influence on his science fiction, thus resulting in timeless classics. Although his scientific non‐fiction may today have lost importance, it still clearly proofs the possibility of writing down scientific information in a lucid and even entertaining manner.     

P.‐O. Löwdin and the International Journal of Quantum Chemistry: A kaleidoscopic agenda for quantum chemistry

This is a article about P.‐O. Löwdin's life, his work in shaping quantum chemistry into a mature discipline at the intersection of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, and his founding of the International Journal of Quantum Chemistry in 1967. Unavoidably, it is, also, a article reflecting our views about the history of quantum chemistry. We attempt to convey the complexities in the becoming of a subdiscipline, like quantum chemistry, where a variety of factors will have to be taken into consideration for a comprehensive understanding of its historical developments: the relations of chemists to the Heisenberg‐Schrödinger formulation of quantum mechanics after 1926, the institutional dynamics centered around the establishment of new courses and chairs, the research agendas and the vying for dominance within the community of quantum chemists, the methodological, and philosophical issues that have never left the quantum chemists indifferent, and, of course, the dramatic role of the computer in transforming the culture for actually practicing quantum chemistry. Furthermore, attracted by American history, culture, and ways of life, Löwdin suggested in the late 1970s that the post‐WWII character of quantum chemistry was dependent on its ability to hub a “scientific melting pot,” much like the United States of America which he viewed as a fusion of people from diverse provenances and cultures. In this article, we attempt to investigate another metaphor, that of the “kaleidoscope.” Löwdin believed that quantum chemistry's strength arose from its ability to nurture a multiplicity of heterogeneous cultural elements/subcultures and practices, interacting with each other, exchanging perspectives and modes of action, which circulated in an increasingly extended network of actors and institutional frameworks. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Chemisches bei Caesar. De bello Gallico...

In his “Gallic War”, Caesar alredy mentioned several materials, the production of which required a certain chemical knowledge, for example iron needed for weapons, woad for body painting, or wine. In this article the knowledge in manufacturing these and some other products at the time of the ancient Romans is described, with special regard to Pliny the Elder's Historia naturalis. It becomes evident that it is worth looking at the works of ancient authors from a chemical‐historical point of view.     

Schrödinger's What is Life?—The 75th Anniversary of a Book that Inspired Biology

In his book What is Life?—The Physical Aspect of the Living Cell, Erwin Schrödinger gives a “naïve physicist's” answer to the question “how can the events in space and time which take place within the spatial boundary of a living organism be accounted for by physics and chemistry?” Although his book was met with criticism from some of his colleagues, it has had a large impact and has served as profound inspiration for pioneers of molecular biology as well as for later generations of both scientists and laymen.     

Schrödinger's What is Life?—The 75th Anniversary of a Book that Inspired Biology

In his book What is Life?—The Physical Aspect of the Living Cell, Erwin Schrödinger gives a “naïve physicist's” answer to the question “how can the events in space and time which take place within the spatial boundary of a living organism be accounted for by physics and chemistry?” Although his book was met with criticism from some of his colleagues, it has had a large impact and has served as profound inspiration for pioneers of molecular biology as well as for later generations of both scientists and laymen.     

Our Future,Our Heritage. The Chemical Family Tree of Tetsuo Nozoe

Note from the Editor: When I was editing Tetsuo Nozoe's autobiography Seventy Years in Organic Chemistry in the late 1980s, I realized that the history of Japanese organic chemistry was not too well known in countries other than Japan. I urged Professor Nozoe to include the historical context of his life in his writings, and I was absolutely delighted that he did so. I also suggested that he publish a “Riko Majima Family Tree in Chemistry.” Majima was not only Nozoe's professor but, as detailed in Nozoe's autobiography and elsewhere in the literature, the father figure of Japanese organic chemistry. Nozoe was reluctant because to single‐out some chemical academics but not others in such a public manner could—would—prove embarrassing. But faithful to his profession, the obligations to history prevailed and Nozoe's autobiography contains the Majima Family Tree. We now skip ahead 25 years where we are immersed in the publication of the Nozoe Autograph Books (see: http://www.tcr.wiley‐vch.de/nozoe and this introductory essay: J. I. Seeman, Chem. Rec. 2012 , 12, 517–531). I find myself once again an editor studying in the life and legacies of Riko Majima and Tetsuo Nozoe. The “repeating experiences” of history have been felt once again! ² I asked Professors Ichiro Murata, Shô Itô, and Toyonobu Asao (who are Professor Nozoe's students and biographers) to follow Professor Nozoe's lead and provide his Family Tree in Chemistry. What follows is a reproduction of the Majima Family Tree as provided by Professor Nozoe along with the next generation Family Tree, that being the students of Tetsuo Nozoe's students who themselves became illustrious professors. —Jeffrey I. Seeman Guest Editor University of Richmond Richmond, Virginia 23173, USA E‐mail: jseeman@richmond.edu     

Manganese Complexes for (De)Hydrogenation Catalysis: A Comparison to Cobalt and Iron Catalysts

The sustainable use of the resources on our planet is essential. Noble metals are very rare and are diversely used in key technologies, such as catalysis. Manganese is the third most abundant transition metal of the Earth's crust and based on the recently discovered impressive reactivity in hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions, is a potentially useful noble‐metal “replacement”. The hope of novel selectivity profiles, not possible with noble metals, is also an aim of such a “replacement”. The reactivity of manganese complexes in (de)hydrogenation reactions was demonstrated for the first time in 2016. Herein, we summarize the work that has been published since then and especially discuss the importance of homogeneous manganese catalysts in comparison to cobalt and iron catalysts.     

Molecular shapes and molecular structures

The first part is a response to E.B. Wilson's remarks about molecular structure at the 1979 Sanibel Symposium; his proposed extension of the notion of “potential energy surface” is a convention, not a part of fundamental molecular quantum theory. An energy surface has no essential role in a non-adiabatic theory which, both in principle and practice, can account for the spectroscopic term formulae with greater accuracy than models based on PE surfaces. Results obtained from the generator coordinate method are cited as confirmation of this conclusion. Claverie and Diner's distinction between “quantum structure” and “classical molecular structure” is discussed; it is the latter that is problematic in molecular quantum theory. The use of molecular structure is optional, and determined by utility, rather than essential in chemical physics; photoelectron spectroscopy is an example where this appreciation has proved fruitful.     

Brodie's Calculus and Chemical Classification

Abstract

This essay proposes a new interpretation of the “Calculus of Chemical Operations” of Benjamin Collins Brodie Jr. (1817–1880). Its goals are to re-assess Brodie's motivations and to suggest reasons why they have not been apparent. It is argued that a central purpose of the Calculus was to justify a new theory of the elements. Brodie hoped to use this to ground a heuristically useful classification scheme embracing all chemical substances. Had he succeeded, he might have realised a similar project pursued previously by Charles Gerhardt, the theorist who most heavily influenced his work. Brodie shared Gerhardt's ideal of classifying chemical substances through series relations, later grounded in types. He believed that this required a revised understanding of the elements. However, Brodie never completed his projected classification, for which parts I and II of the Calculus were preliminary.     

A Note on “Modified Chain Displacement Function of Gaussian Networks” by A. H. Crossland

Crossland claims that the development of the conventional Gaussian theory of rubber elasticity does not take into account the requirement that the polymer chain end-to-end vector must be equal in direction to the network junction-to-junction vector. Reintroducing the directional probability, he develops a novel Gaussian strain-energy function. H correct, Crossland's work is a significant contribution, resulting in notable improvements in important models in rubber elasticity and polymer rheology. Unfortunately, there is an error in Crossland's analysis. Correction of the error reduces Crossland's results to those of the conventional Gaussian theory and shows that the conventional theory does correctly account for the directional probability. The “improved” strain-energy function, therefore, has no theoretical basis and, at best, must be considered purely empirical.     

Fascinated by a chain molecule review of 35 years' research on cellulose

For over 35 years the author has been involved in cellulose research and his retirement next year is the reason why he has undertaken to present a review on some aspects of his investigations on the fascinating substance cellulose. One topic of his research activities is electron microscopy. At the very start, at the Institute for Cellulose Chemistry (T.H. Darmstadt), observations were made on bordered pits and structural details on the walls of wood and pulp fibres. He was able to continue his teacher's, Georg Jayme's, traditional basic research on cellulose at the Institute for Wood Research (University of Munich) where “dreams” of the fifties and sixties such as the visualization of individual molecules and the growing of macrocrystals of cellulose could be realized. Here, the electron microscope became a vital instrument for the study of cellulose chemistry.     

Carl Hagemann ...ein Mensch von großer Güte,ein richtiger Chemiker...

Carl Hagemann (1867–1940), well known for his collection of German Expressionist paintings, was a successful chemist and manager at Farbenfabriken Bayer, Cassella and IG Farben company. 1893 he described a simple method of synthesizing methyl‐cyclohexenone‐carboxylic acid ethylesters, one is connected with the author's name to “Hagemann's ester”. It and many derivatives are used for synthesizing natural products and pharmaceuticals. Surprisingly, the Hagemann painting collection survived the spiteful actions of Hitler's regime and the dangerous Allied bombing raids and moreover today's chemists are still interested in Hagemann's ester.