Volume 1

A manual of inorganic chemistry ... / by T.E. Thorpe.

  • Thorpe, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1845-1925.
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of inorganic chemistry ... / by T.E. Thorpe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    INORGANIC CHEMISTRY. NON-METALS. CHAPTER I. 1. Introduction.—The word Chemistry is derived from the Greek (chemeia), employed by certain writers in the beginning of the eleventh century to express “the art of making gold artificially”—a signification which we now attach to the word Alchemy. The root of the word is of doubtful origin. It is by some obtained from Chemia, an ancient name of Egypt, where the art is said to have originated. Some refer it to the Arabic Kimia, something hidden or secret; and others deduce it from the Celtic Kheym, fire. Even these do not exhaust the number of derivations which have been proposed. 2. Province of Chemistry.—When a candle burns in the air it gradually disappears, and the material of which it is com- posed passes away unseen. But is this material annihilated because it is no longer visible 1 Are we to suppose that when a body burns and disappears its substance is absolutely de- stroyed % We can only decide such a question by making the candle the subject of experiment; by carefully determining the precise condition under which it burns, and observing all the phenomena of its combustion. Experiment teaches us that if we burn it in a small confined space, say within a little bottle, the flame will languish, and sooner or later be extinguished; but that if we so arrange matters that the space in which the candle burns is practically unconfined, the candle continues to be consumed, and ultimately disappears. Now, if the candle required nothing to keep up its combustion, and gave off nothing in the burning to stifle its flame, there is no