A Cultural History of Chemistry in the Nineteenth Century

Peter J. Ramberg

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9781474294805
• eBook ISBN: 9781350251557
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Social History
• Index: History

A Cultural History of Chemistry in the Nineteenth Century covers the period from 1815 to 1914 and the birth of modern chemistry. The elaboration of atomic theory - and new ideas of periodicity, structure, bonding, and equilibrium - emerged in tandem with new instruments and practices. The chemical industry expanded exponentially, fuelled by an increasing demand for steel, aluminium, dyestuffs, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. And the chemical laboratory became established in its two distinct modern settings of the university and industry. At the turn of the century, the discovery of radioactivity took hold of the public imagination, drawing chemistry closer to physics, even as it threatened to undermine the whole concept of atomism.

The 6 volume set of the Cultural History of Chemistry presents the first comprehensive history from the Bronze Age to today, covering all forms and aspects of chemistry and its ever-changing social context. The themes covered in each volume are theory and concepts; practice and experiment; laboratories and technology; culture and science; society and environment; trade and industry; learning and institutions; art and representation.

Peter J. Ramberg is Professor of the History of Science at Truman State University, USA.

Volume 5 in the Cultural History of Chemistry set.
General Editors: Peter J. T. Morris, University College London, UK, and Alan Rocke, Case Western Reserve University, USA.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle Page
• Title Page
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• List of Tables
• Series Preface
• Introduction: Creating Modern Chemistry
• 1 Theory and Concepts: Atomism, Structure, and Affinity
• 2 Practice and Experiment: Analysis, Synthesis, and Paper Tools
• 3 Laboratories and Technology: Continuity and Ingenuity in the Workplace
• 4 Culture and Science: Chemistry Spreads Its Influence
• 5 Society and Environment: Increased Access for Women, Growing Consumerism, and Emerging Regulation
• 6 Trade and Industry: New Demands, New Processes, and the Emergence of Science-Based Chemical Industry
• 7 Learning and Institutions: Emergence of Laboratory-Based Learning, Research Schools, and Professionalization
• 8 Art and Representation: The Rise of the “Mad Scientist”
• Notes
• Bibliography
• List of Contributors
• Index
• Imprint