Syllabus of a course of lectures on the principles of chemistry, commencing at the Museum, Oxford, in Oct. 1831.

  • Daubeny, Charles, 1795-1867.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Syllabus of a course of lectures on the principles of chemistry, commencing at the Museum, Oxford, in Oct. 1831. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    GrENERAL plan of the course. Chemistry distinguished from mechanical philosophy— Its office twofold—to ascertain the characteristic properties inherent in different kinds of matter—and to determine the changes that are produced in these properties in conse- quence of the action of one body upon another—As this may happen either by the agency of natural causes, or be brought about by artificial means, the facts of Chemistry are derived from two sources—observation and experiment. Whatever changes are induced in bodies may be referred to one of two causes, or to the operation of both united— these are Attraction and Heat—Hence a knowledge of the laws which regulate the action of these two forces consti- tutes in itself a principal part of Chemistry, and is essential to the due understanding of the remainder. The attraction which comes more immediately under the • • Attrac- consideration of the Chemist distinguished from other kinds, by its taking place at insensible distances, and subsisting between the particles of different kinds of matter; whereas that between the particles of the same body belongs to me- chanical philosophy—Hence the former kind is designated by the name of Chemical, whilst the latter is called Cohe- sive. i Cohesive attraction must be incidentally noticed as serv- Cohesive, ing to modify the action of that denominated Chemical— It is possessed in a greater or less degree by all substances —the different states in which they exist arising not from the absence of this force, but from the more or less power- b 2