Theoretical organic chemistry / by Julius B. Cohen.

  • Cohen, Julius B. (Julius Berend), 1859-1935.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Theoretical organic chemistry / by Julius B. Cohen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    exhibit, affords a better chance of their being understood and remembered. Another difficulty in compiling a text-book proceeds from the introduction of theories, which cannot be exhaustively discussed within the limits of a small volume. I do not regard this as a real drawback ; for a suggestion, which arouses curiosity, is better for the serious student, who will take a little trouble to read for himself, than an elaborate and complete discussion of the subject. The idea of atomic space arrangement, which may now be regarded as one of the corner-stones of organic chemistry— almost equalling in importance the theory of tetravalent carbon —is introduced at an early stage and kept constantly in view. The modern theories which are included under the head of “ physical chemistry ” have at present only a subordinate interest in organic chemistry, and have therefore been very briefly mentioned with a reference to a text-book where the subject is methodically developed and, therefore, more easily followed. The time seems to have come when certain well-worn names, which have done duty in the past, should now belong to history and vanish from the text-book. We no longer think of esters as compounds of ether with acids, as in the days of Berzelius, and I make no apology for having discarded the terms ethereal salt and ether applied in this sense. The questions at the end of each chapter, many of which are drawn from University B.Sc. pass-papers, and from the papers of the Board of Education, South Kensington, are introduced in response to the exigencies of the present universal system of examination tests. I wish to express my thanks to my friend and colleague, Professor Smithells, for much valuable advice, and to Mr. x\. T. Simmons for his help in the correction of the proof sheets. I am also indebted to many friends and former students for details connected with technical processes with which they are engaged. J. B. COHEN. The Yorkshire College, October, 1902.