BOOK REVIEW
Edit (10/5/17): I read certain part of this book on the surface again, with the question on how chemists were able to know about atoms which we can’t see. It seems that at first chemists were able to make different substances from different mixtures, which they named randomly. They (Lavoisier) seem to have then saw the presence of only one product from hydrogen and oxygen, which they might have known as certain airs. Later from the law of definite proportion (Berthelot) and law of multiple proportions (John Dalton), atomic exploratory way seem to be used to introduce chemical formula (Berzelius) of substances. Till here, experience seems of many experiments seems to be used, to see the relations. Then the experiments on electricity seems to be used. They seem to have come to know about combining ability of elements (valency) through several experiments, which Kekule used to add bonds (which they haven’t seen?); this seems to have given starting for stereochemistry. From valency, arrangements of elements seems to have been tried (Mendeleev’s periodic table). Then Pasture's experience of bending light (chirality) and spectroscopy seems to have been used model/imagine(?) the arrangement in reality. Thompson and crooks experiment seems to have introduced the new component electron, which along with atomic exploratory way, a plum-pudding model seems to have been constructed (haven’t seen the atom yet!); Rutherford’s experiment seems to have shown on the space inside the substance being mostly empty, who then later used planetary-model to again only explain the observation and not having any other proof for it really being the reality at the smaller scale. Then from other experiences from the discovery of X-ray, radioactivity seems to have given more observations to be explained. Moseley’s experiment seems to have shown increase in charge (I don’t know how), introducing atomic number and solidity for periodic table. Again with other exploratory ways, which didn’t consider reality, but seems to have been meant for exploration were described: Werner’s theory, Lewis on covalent bonding(?). Then Bohr seems to have tried explaining experiences related to interaction of light with matter, which again pulled down for not explaining certain experiences by new Quantum Mechanics, which seems to be even described as a way of explaining all the observations/experiences, but the atom seems to be not seen completely as described in theory!
This book seems to have been written in 1995, now microscopes seems to have developed which can see at greater depth. If this book can be updated, it will be more complete in giving the overview.
Supports| 19/5/17: See Elephant And Bind Men: Wikipedia; here is a specific quote from Heisenberg extracted from it:
“We have to remember that what we observe is not nature in itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning.”
Previous Review:
I have made a habit of experiencing the history, when I feel a concept to be blurry or difficult. I always felt (arguably) lack of rigour in Chemistry, so I thought of looking back into its history. I started reading Cathy Cobb and Harold Goldwhite’s "Creations Of Fire: Chemistry's Lively History From Alchemy To The Atomic Age". I didn't get lot of insights while reading the book, though it is my fault for my brain didn't have lot in connection with it; but did give big view of the history from the past (really past), to the present. Even though I am writing this review, as even little insights from the book will help in the future journey.
I was sad at seeing the open say of the book being written from the secondary sources and not from the primary sources; I agree that reading Latin alien seeming characters to be a difficult job, but I didn't expect it to be completely derived from secondary sources, as the sources after 1600s are really wonderful and are up to the level to be understood by even today's generation. The book has three parts, one for past-past years, one for the middle years, one for the quantum age. The positive point about this book is that, it gives a great view on how society plays a major role, even in the moulding of the path taken by science. Entire book is crafted in a way to explain the relationship between chemistry and society.
Book starts with the chemistry of ca.100,000 BCE; idea of starting from the really past is okay, but I thought it would have been better to cut some of the parts. Though I saw the evil woman (WiTcH) only in cartoons, but the book gave me the origin of those ideas. First part involves more in explaining how black magic, alchemy (a quest to convert something into gold) were practised in the back before. Then it goes on with the brief biography of each chemist, starting from folks like Aristotle, Socrates, etc. I was shocked to see how the book placed, Jesus, the man then, and the god now, as the one who lived after some great philosophers (yeah, it is known to all, but it did look strange to me then). The book proceeds to the second part to give us a look on the entrance of the modern chemistry, explaining everything about the history of every concept of chemistry. Then ending with the third part of Quantum Chemistry, and the few looks on the present chemistry research.
The lines of the book which I like the most comes from the fifteenth chapter, where the author says the chemistry till before ~1900s was just an art; and I feel these 1900s environment (among few) even now!
I came to know the working style of chemists, and ...came to know the story behind chemistry, and ...that is what I wanted, the book did help me.
Edit (10/5/17): I read certain part of this book on the surface again, with the question on how chemists were able to know about atoms which we can’t see. It seems that at first chemists were able to make different substances from different mixtures, which they named randomly. They (Lavoisier) seem to have then saw the presence of only one product from hydrogen and oxygen, which they might have known as certain airs. Later from the law of definite proportion (Berthelot) and law of multiple proportions (John Dalton), atomic exploratory way seem to be used to introduce chemical formula (Berzelius) of substances. Till here, experience seems of many experiments seems to be used, to see the relations. Then the experiments on electricity seems to be used. They seem to have come to know about combining ability of elements (valency) through several experiments, which Kekule used to add bonds (which they haven’t seen?); this seems to have given starting for stereochemistry. From valency, arrangements of elements seems to have been tried (Mendeleev’s periodic table). Then Pasture's experience of bending light (chirality) and spectroscopy seems to have been used model/imagine(?) the arrangement in reality. Thompson and crooks experiment seems to have introduced the new component electron, which along with atomic exploratory way, a plum-pudding model seems to have been constructed (haven’t seen the atom yet!); Rutherford’s experiment seems to have shown on the space inside the substance being mostly empty, who then later used planetary-model to again only explain the observation and not having any other proof for it really being the reality at the smaller scale. Then from other experiences from the discovery of X-ray, radioactivity seems to have given more observations to be explained. Moseley’s experiment seems to have shown increase in charge (I don’t know how), introducing atomic number and solidity for periodic table. Again with other exploratory ways, which didn’t consider reality, but seems to have been meant for exploration were described: Werner’s theory, Lewis on covalent bonding(?). Then Bohr seems to have tried explaining experiences related to interaction of light with matter, which again pulled down for not explaining certain experiences by new Quantum Mechanics, which seems to be even described as a way of explaining all the observations/experiences, but the atom seems to be not seen completely as described in theory!
This book seems to have been written in 1995, now microscopes seems to have developed which can see at greater depth. If this book can be updated, it will be more complete in giving the overview.
Supports| 19/5/17: See Elephant And Bind Men: Wikipedia; here is a specific quote from Heisenberg extracted from it:
“We have to remember that what we observe is not nature in itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning.”
Previous Review:
I have made a habit of experiencing the history, when I feel a concept to be blurry or difficult. I always felt (arguably) lack of rigour in Chemistry, so I thought of looking back into its history. I started reading Cathy Cobb and Harold Goldwhite’s "Creations Of Fire: Chemistry's Lively History From Alchemy To The Atomic Age". I didn't get lot of insights while reading the book, though it is my fault for my brain didn't have lot in connection with it; but did give big view of the history from the past (really past), to the present. Even though I am writing this review, as even little insights from the book will help in the future journey.
I was sad at seeing the open say of the book being written from the secondary sources and not from the primary sources; I agree that reading Latin alien seeming characters to be a difficult job, but I didn't expect it to be completely derived from secondary sources, as the sources after 1600s are really wonderful and are up to the level to be understood by even today's generation. The book has three parts, one for past-past years, one for the middle years, one for the quantum age. The positive point about this book is that, it gives a great view on how society plays a major role, even in the moulding of the path taken by science. Entire book is crafted in a way to explain the relationship between chemistry and society.
Book starts with the chemistry of ca.100,000 BCE; idea of starting from the really past is okay, but I thought it would have been better to cut some of the parts. Though I saw the evil woman (WiTcH) only in cartoons, but the book gave me the origin of those ideas. First part involves more in explaining how black magic, alchemy (a quest to convert something into gold) were practised in the back before. Then it goes on with the brief biography of each chemist, starting from folks like Aristotle, Socrates, etc. I was shocked to see how the book placed, Jesus, the man then, and the god now, as the one who lived after some great philosophers (yeah, it is known to all, but it did look strange to me then). The book proceeds to the second part to give us a look on the entrance of the modern chemistry, explaining everything about the history of every concept of chemistry. Then ending with the third part of Quantum Chemistry, and the few looks on the present chemistry research.
The lines of the book which I like the most comes from the fifteenth chapter, where the author says the chemistry till before ~1900s was just an art; and I feel these 1900s environment (among few) even now!
I came to know the working style of chemists, and ...came to know the story behind chemistry, and ...that is what I wanted, the book did help me.
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