The Art Of Chemistry: Myths, Medicines, And Materials

The Art of Chemistry: Myths, Medicines, and Materials

A fascinating collection of the pictures, figures, and diagramsthat chemists create to explain their craftIn A Chemical History Tour, Arthur Greenberg took readers ona wild romp through the history of chemistry, introducing theunique characters, sometimes bizarre theories, and novelexperiments that ultimately produced the modern science. NowGreenberg returns with more tales of chemistry glory, lovinglychronicling the extraordinary artwork that alchemists and chemistshave produced in their pursuit of understanding the nature ofmatter in The Art of Chemistry: Myths, Medicines, andMaterials.The Art of Chemistry employs 187 figures (including 16full-color plates) to illuminate 72 essays on the mythical origins,wondrous experiments, and adventurous explorers in the annals ofchemistry. Greenberg divides his delightful study into eightsections:Spiritual and Mythological RootsStills, Cupels, and WeaponsMedicines, Purges, and OintmentsAn Emerging ScienceTwo Revolutions in FranceA Young Country and a Young TheorySpecialization and SystemizationSome FunEach section tracks chemistry's incremental progress from myth tomodern science, featuring the figures and diagrams that earlychemists used to explain their craft. Along the way, readers willmeet the deadly basilisk and the fabulous phoenix that populatedthe lore of pre-modern chemistry, learn the contributions tochemistry of the American natural philosopher Benjamin Franklin,and encounter Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry andperhaps France's greatest economist.Greenberg also examines our fundamental connections with sciencethrough two personal essays, one on an adolescent friend whoimprobably (but perhaps inevitably) became a world-renownedentomology professor and the other on his quest to discover his ownchemical heritage. The Art of Chemistry is sure to informand entertain anyone interested in our eternal quest to know thenatural world.