The introductory lecture of Thomas Cooper, Esq., professor of chemistry at Carlisle College, Pennsylvania / published at the request of the trustees ; with notes and references.

  • Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839.
Date:
1812
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The introductory lecture of Thomas Cooper, Esq., professor of chemistry at Carlisle College, Pennsylvania / published at the request of the trustees ; with notes and references. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    20/254
    The more peculiar objects of Chemical science, are the disorganized and inorganic bodies ; not considered as aggregates or masses, but as respects the composition and decomposition of the particles themselves that com- pose those masses, into two or more of a different na- ture, by what is called Analysis ; and the formation of one set of particles by the intimate union of two or more of a different nature, which is called Synthesis. This is done by mixing bodies together at various temperatures according to the purpose to be effected. This decompo- sition and composition of bodies, is performed according to the laws of the attraction of combination, or chemical attraction : which notwithstanding the great industry cm- ployed in its investigation, particularly of late years, is as yet but very imperfectly known, either as to its cause, connections, or effects, or the precise laws by which it is governed. M. Berthollet has shewn that it greatly depends on the attraction of cohesion, and on the relative masses or quantities subjected to mutual action; and some late experiments of Mr. Davy, have rendered it highly probable that it is in some manner or other, inti- mately related to electricity ; but in this, as in man) other respects, we must be content to look at chemical sci- ence through a glass darkly, and to consider it for the