How chemistry shifts horizons: element, substance, and the essential

In 1931 eminent chemist Fritz Paneth maintained that the modern notion of “element” is closely related to (and as “metaphysical” as) the concept of element used by the ancients (e.g., Aristotle). On that basis, the element chlorine (properly so-called) is not the elementary substance dichlorine, but rather chlorine as it is in carbon tetrachloride. The fact that pure chemicals are called “substances” in English (and closely related words are so used in other European languages) derives from philosophical compromises made by grammarians in the late Roman Empire (particularly Priscian [fl. ~520 CE]). When the main features of the constitution of isotopes became clear in the first half of the twentieth century, the formal (IUPAC) definition of a “chemical element” was changed. The features that are “essential” to being an element had previously been “transcendental” (“beyond the sphere of consciousness”) but, by the mid-twentieth century the defining characteristics of elements, as such, had come to be understood in detail. This amounts to a shift in a “horizon of invisibility” brought about by progress in chemistry and related sciences. Similarly, chemical insight is relevant to currently-open philosophical problems, such as the status of “the bundle theory” of the coherence of properties in concrete individuals.

Connecting the philosophy of chemistry,green chemistry,and moral philosophy

This paper aims to connect philosophy of chemistry, green chemistry, and moral philosophy. We first characterize chemistry by underlining how chemists: (1) co-define chemical bodies, operations, and transformations; (2) always refer to active and context-sensitive bodies to explain the reactions under study; and (3) develop strategies that require and intertwine with a molecular whole, its parts, and the surroundings at the same time within an explanation. We will then point out how green chemists are transforming their current activities in order to act upon the world without jeopardizing life. This part will allow us to highlight that green chemistry follows the three aforementioned characteristics while including the world as a partner, as well as biodegradability and sustainability concerns, into chemical practices. In the third part of this paper, we will show how moral philosophy can help green chemists: (1) identify the consequentialist assumptions that ground their reasoning; and (2) widen the scope of their ethical considerations by integrating the notion of care and that of vulnerability into their arguments. In the fourth part of the paper, we will emphasize how, in return, this investigation could help philosophers querying consequentialism as soon as the consequences of chemical activities over the world are taken into account. Furthermore, we will point out how the philosophy of chemistry provides philosophers with new arguments concerning the key debate about the ‘intrinsic value’ of life, ecosystems and the Earth, in environmental ethics. To conclude, we will highlight how mesology, that is to say the study of ‘milieux’, and the concept of ‘ecumeme’ proposed by the philosopher and geographer Augustin Berque, could become important both for green chemists and moral philosophers in order to investigate our relationships with the Earth.     

The Gulf between chemistry and philosophy of chemistry,then and now

Structural Chemistry - The article aims to introduce the sub-discipline of the philosophy of chemistry to the chemical community at large. The origins of the field are briefly reviewed including...     

走出自然状态：康德与公共法权的证成

着眼于权利在自然状态下不可避免的无保障性和暂时性特质,康德以源初契约理念证成进入公共法权状态的现实性和必然性。经由共同意志确立普遍法则和可辩护的理性法庭,进而以合法的强制要求各方承担基于公共承认的道德义务,乃是保障并确证每个人的所有权并实现平等自由价值的根本条件。联合的意志、相互责任和平等自由成为确立公共法权状态的规范性前提,也是康德自律观念公共性价值向度的鲜明体现。在此意义上,公共法权的康德式证成路径与传统自然法学说和社会契约论存在诸多差异,成为不可或缺的政治思想资源。     

Moving beyond insularity in the history,philosophy, and sociology of chemistry

This essay supports and encourages multiple disciplinary interactions for practitioners of the disciplines of chemistry, history of chemistry, philosophy of chemistry, and sociology of chemistry.     

Paneth,IUPAC, and the Naming of Elements

The procedure for assigning names to elements by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry involves establishing priority of discovery, then inviting the discoverers to suggest a name. This protocol is in contrast with the suggestions of Friedrich A. Paneth form 1947, who believed that the discoverers of an element have the undisputed right to name it. This difference in philosophy came to light during a workshop convened 10 years ago for the purpose of naming elements 104–109, when the discoverers of these elements contended that they were solely entitled to name them. During the debate, and in support of the name seaborgium for element 106, it was argued that gadolinium, samarium, gallium, einsteinium and fermium had been named after living scientists. The history of the naming of these elements demonstrates that this is not the case; Glenn T. Seaborg is the first scientist for whom an element was named during his lifetime.     

Simultaneous determination of acidic,basic and alcoholic substances relating to monoamine hormones and metabolites in biological material by mass fragmentography (GC/MF)

A method is described for the simultaneous quantitative determination of monoamines and related compounds from urine and brain tissue samples in the pg-range, using a GC/MF instrument LKB-2091 provided with a multiple ion detection (MID) system and capillary columns. The simultaneous detection of “fingerprints” with fourteen and more compounds during one single GC run was achieved after the intoduction of “time gates” for the detection of the different characteristic masses. Several modifications to the LKB equipment permitted exact reproducibility of retention times, which is essential for the use of “time gates”. The detection of “fingerprints” with these acidic, basic and alcoholic substances was achieved by the extraction of the dried biological samples with silylating agents.     

The chemistry of fluorine containing phosphaalkenes, arsaalkenes and selenocarbonyls

This review covers our extensive research activities in the area of fluorine containing phospha- and arsaalkenes as well as selenocarbonyls, which differ considerably in their properties and reactivities from their alkyl and aryl counterparts and thus contribute in a gratifying manner to the still growing field of unsaturated element-carbon compounds of 3rd and 4th row main group elements E. Of particular interest is the influence of the fluorine substituents and other small groups (OR, NR₂) with either inductive and/or mesomeric effects on the polarity and reactivity of the EC bond. Addition reactions of proton acidic and hydridic polar HX reactants as well as [2+2], [3+2] and [4+2] cycloadditions have been thoroughly studied. The results obtained allow a classification of the EC systems within five different types, A to E, and prove a change from “normal” to “inverse” heteroalkenes in this sequence. The ligand properties of some derivatives have also been investigated in some detail.     

Acylpyrazolone ligands: Synthesis, structures, metal coordination chemistry and applications

This review summarizes the literature on 4-acyl-5-pyrazolone ligands, their synthesis, characterization and coordination chemistry toward main group, transition, lanthanide and actinide metals and relevant applications of their metal complexes.     

Histochemical and Phytochemical Analysis of Lamium album subsp. album L. Corolla: Essential Oil,Triterpenes, and Iridoids

The aim of this study was to conduct a histochemical analysis to localize lipids, terpenes, essential oil, and iridoids in the trichomes of the L. album subsp. album corolla. Morphometric examinations of individual trichome types were performed. Light and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to show the micromorphology and localization of lipophilic compounds and iridoids in secretory trichomes with the use of histochemical tests. Additionally, the content of essential oil and its components were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Qualitative analyses of triterpenes carried out using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) coupled with densitometric detection, and the iridoid content expressed as aucubin was examined with spectrophotometric techniques. We showed the presence of iridoids and different lipophilic compounds in papillae and glandular and non-glandular trichomes. On average, the flowers of L. album subsp. album yielded 0.04 mL/kg of essential oil, which was dominated by aldehydes, sesquiterpenes, and alkanes. The extract of the L. album subsp. album corolla contained 1.5 × 10⁻³ ± 4.3 × 10⁻⁴ mg/mL of iridoid aucubin and three triterpenes: oleanolic acid, β-amyrin, and β-amyrin acetate. Aucubin and β-amyrin acetate were detected for the first time. We suggest the use of L. album subsp. album flowers as supplements in human nutrition.