Papers on etherification and on the constitution of salts / by Alexander W. Williamson ... (1850-1856).

  • Williamson, Alexander W. (Alexander William), 1824-1904.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Papers on etherification and on the constitution of salts / by Alexander W. Williamson ... (1850-1856). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    SUGGESTIONS FOR THE DYNAMICS OF CHEMISTRY DERIVED FROM THE THEORY OF ETHERIFICATION* THE human mind is only capable of understanding complicated phenomena when prepared by the study of simpler ones ; and one of the most remark- able illustrations of this necessary order is afforded by the preparation of dynamical laws by the consideration of statical facts. In statics we consider phenomena in a state of rest, while in dynamics we study their change ; and this distinction has been concisely stated by saying that the transition from the statical to the dynamical point of view, consists in superadding the consideration of time to that of space. To represent the unknown cause of any change in phenomena, the word force has been formed, and is generally retained until the law of that change has been discovered; so that the dynamics of a subject may be said to constitute the explanation of the phenomena belonging to it. It unfortunately often occurs that names are mis- taken for explanations, and people deceive them- selves with the belief that, for instance, in attributing chemical decompositions to affinity, attraction, contact- force, catalysis, &c., they explain them. But owing to the necessary dependence of investi- gations on our mental operations, there is ahva3-s a deficiency of facts corresponding to the imperfection * [From Notices of the Proceedings at the Meetings of the Members of the Royal Institution, vol. i., 1851-1854, pp. go-94.]