1 SC/STS 3760, XVII Chemistry The Science of Matter: A development in the later part of the...

11SC/STS 3760, XVIISC/STS 3760, XVII

ChemistryChemistry

The Science of The Science of Matter:Matter:A development in the A development in the later part of the later part of the Scientific RevolutionScientific Revolution


Qualities vs. Qualities vs. QuantitiesQuantities Chemical properties seem qualitative.Chemical properties seem qualitative.

– Alchemy was almost entirely qualitative.Alchemy was almost entirely qualitative.– Colour, consistency, taste, odour, Colour, consistency, taste, odour,

hardness, what combines with what.hardness, what combines with what.– Chemical change is a change of quality.Chemical change is a change of quality.

Terminology:Terminology:– ““Virtues”Virtues”– ““Active principles” Active principles”

All ancient preceptsAll ancient precepts


Quantities only, Quantities only, please…please… The new science, since Newton, The new science, since Newton,

required that all facets of the required that all facets of the physical world be describable physical world be describable with measurable quantities.with measurable quantities.– Everything is to be understood as Everything is to be understood as

matter and motion.matter and motion.


Phlogiston TheoryPhlogiston Theory

Phlogiston theory was the first Phlogiston theory was the first workable chemical theory that workable chemical theory that was conceived entirely on was conceived entirely on mechanist principles.mechanist principles.– Its origin was from alchemy.Its origin was from alchemy.


A Biblical A Biblical interpretationinterpretation J. J. Becher was a German J. J. Becher was a German

scientist/philosopher of the mid scientist/philosopher of the mid 1717thth century, the son of a Lutheran century, the son of a Lutheran minister.minister.– He noted that the book of He noted that the book of GenesisGenesis

spoke only of organic materials, and spoke only of organic materials, and concluded that they were the sole concluded that they were the sole basis of creation.basis of creation.

– Metals, he concluded, were Metals, he concluded, were byproducts of organic matter.byproducts of organic matter.


Terra PinguisTerra Pinguis

Becher believed that there were Becher believed that there were three principles of compound three principles of compound bodies:bodies:– VitreousVitreous– MercuryMercury– Terra PinguisTerra Pinguis (fatty earth). (fatty earth).

Terra pinguisTerra pinguis is what gave bodies is what gave bodies their properties of taste, odour, their properties of taste, odour, and combustibility.and combustibility.


PhlogistonPhlogiston

Georg Ernst Stahl (1660-1734), Georg Ernst Stahl (1660-1734), a German physician, took the a German physician, took the notion of notion of terra pinguisterra pinguis as an as an essential explanatory principle.essential explanatory principle.

He changed its name to He changed its name to phlogistonphlogiston, the fire principle., the fire principle.– Through phlogiston, Stahl endeavoured to Through phlogiston, Stahl endeavoured to

explain all of chemistry.explain all of chemistry.


Phlogiston’s Phlogiston’s propertiesproperties Phlogiston is released when:Phlogiston is released when:

– Wood burns.Wood burns.– Metals calcify or rust.Metals calcify or rust.

Escaping phlogiston stirs up Escaping phlogiston stirs up particles and thereby produces particles and thereby produces heat.heat.

Phlogiston is found in great Phlogiston is found in great quantities in organic matter.quantities in organic matter.


Confirming phenomenaConfirming phenomena

Metal calces are powders, like ash, Metal calces are powders, like ash, resulting from heating metals in a resulting from heating metals in a fire.fire.– Stahl’s idea was that phlogiston was Stahl’s idea was that phlogiston was

driven out of the metal when the calx driven out of the metal when the calx was produced.was produced.

– If he reheated the calx in an oven If he reheated the calx in an oven filled with charcoal (which he believed filled with charcoal (which he believed was very rich in phlogiston), the calx was very rich in phlogiston), the calx turned back into the original metal.turned back into the original metal.


Confirming Confirming phenomena, 2phenomena, 2 Plants, he believed, absorbed Plants, he believed, absorbed

phlogiston from the atmosphere.phlogiston from the atmosphere. They burned readily because they They burned readily because they

had much phlogiston to release. had much phlogiston to release. (That being the definition of (That being the definition of burning.)burning.)


Confirming Confirming phenomena, 3phenomena, 3 Combustion, he found, was Combustion, he found, was

impossible in a vacuum.impossible in a vacuum.– Explanation: There was no air Explanation: There was no air

present to carry off the phlogiston.present to carry off the phlogiston.


Minor hitch in the Minor hitch in the theorytheory Typically, metal calces weighed Typically, metal calces weighed

more than the original metal.more than the original metal.– How can this be if the calcification How can this be if the calcification

process drives off the phlogiston in process drives off the phlogiston in the metal?the metal?

– Answer: Phlogiston possesses levity; Answer: Phlogiston possesses levity; i.e., it is lighter than nothing.i.e., it is lighter than nothing.


Levity is an ancient Levity is an ancient idea.idea. Levity, or inherent lightness, is an Levity, or inherent lightness, is an

idea found in Aristotle.idea found in Aristotle.– Air and fire rise because they Air and fire rise because they

possess levity, while earth and water possess levity, while earth and water fall because they possess heaviness.fall because they possess heaviness.

– These are qualitative notions. They These are qualitative notions. They do not fit in quantitative, mechanist do not fit in quantitative, mechanist explanations. explanations.


All air is not the sameAll air is not the same

Parallel to phlogiston theory, Parallel to phlogiston theory, another another concept entered chemistry about concept entered chemistry about the the same time: the notion that “air” is same time: the notion that “air” is not just one thing, but that there not just one thing, but that there are different kinds of “airs.”are different kinds of “airs.”


GasesGases

Johann Baptista van Johann Baptista van Helmont (1577-1644) Helmont (1577-1644) introduced the term introduced the term “gas” to refer to “gas” to refer to different kinds of airs.different kinds of airs.– ““Gas” comes from the Gas” comes from the

Greek word Greek word , from , from which we get “chaos” which we get “chaos” in English.in English.


Air versus GasesAir versus Gases

The ancient concept was that air The ancient concept was that air was just air, sometimes was just air, sometimes permeated with solid bits floating permeated with solid bits floating in it (e.g., smoke), but not in it (e.g., smoke), but not composed of different gaseous composed of different gaseous substances.substances.

Hence gases (“airs”) were ignored Hence gases (“airs”) were ignored by alchemists.by alchemists.


Collecting gasesCollecting gases

The problem with The problem with studying gases is studying gases is that they escaped.that they escaped.

An ingenious device An ingenious device was invented by was invented by Stephen Hales in Stephen Hales in 1727 to collect 1727 to collect gases from gases from chemical reactions.chemical reactions. The pneumatic

trough for collecting gases.


New gasesNew gases

Joseph Black (1728-1799), Joseph Black (1728-1799), in Scotland, identified in Scotland, identified several new gases, giving several new gases, giving them names consistent them names consistent with phlogiston theory.with phlogiston theory.– E.g., “fixed air,” what we call E.g., “fixed air,” what we call

carbon dioxide.carbon dioxide. Other researchers Other researchers

identified other new “airs.”identified other new “airs.”– E.g., “inflammable air” E.g., “inflammable air”

(hydrogen).(hydrogen).


Joseph PriestleyJoseph Priestley

Another British Another British chemical researcher chemical researcher was Joseph Priestley was Joseph Priestley (1733-1804), a (1733-1804), a Unitarian cleric and Unitarian cleric and teacher of modern teacher of modern languages in languages in Birmingham, England.Birmingham, England.

Priestley was an Priestley was an enthusiastic amateur enthusiastic amateur chemist.chemist.


Dephlogisticated airDephlogisticated air

Priestley produced different gases Priestley produced different gases by fomenting chemical reactions by fomenting chemical reactions and collecting the gases produced and collecting the gases produced with a pneumatic trough.with a pneumatic trough.

One of the gases he produced by One of the gases he produced by heating mercuric calx by heating mercuric calx by concentrating the sun’s rays on it.concentrating the sun’s rays on it.


Dephlogisticated air, 2Dephlogisticated air, 2

According to phlogiston theory, According to phlogiston theory, he was re-impregnating the he was re-impregnating the mercury with phlogiston, taken mercury with phlogiston, taken from the surrounding air.from the surrounding air.

Hence, the air that remained was Hence, the air that remained was deficient in phlogiston. He called deficient in phlogiston. He called it “dephlogisticated air.it “dephlogisticated air.


Dephlogisticated air, 3Dephlogisticated air, 3

Experimenting with his new air, Experimenting with his new air, Priestley found that:Priestley found that:– A candle burned brighter in it.A candle burned brighter in it.– A mouse put in a closed flask of the A mouse put in a closed flask of the

air lived longer than one he put in a air lived longer than one he put in a flask of ordinary air.flask of ordinary air.

– He tried breathing it himself, and it He tried breathing it himself, and it made him feel great.made him feel great.


The mechanist view The mechanist view supportedsupported The fact that dephlogisticated air The fact that dephlogisticated air

improved combustion improved combustion andand improved respiration suggested a improved respiration suggested a connection between the two.connection between the two.– This provided greater support for the This provided greater support for the

mechanist viewpoint and the idea mechanist viewpoint and the idea that the body is really a machine.that the body is really a machine.


PriestlePriestley fled y fled to the to the U.S.U.S.

Priestley was an enthusiastic supporter of the Priestley was an enthusiastic supporter of the American and French revolutions. His outspoken American and French revolutions. His outspoken radical views enraged a mob that burned down his radical views enraged a mob that burned down his house and library. Priestley escaped to the United house and library. Priestley escaped to the United States where he lived for the remainder of his life.States where he lived for the remainder of his life.


Antoine LavoisierAntoine Lavoisier

– 1743-17941743-1794 A tax collector for the A tax collector for the

French monarchy.French monarchy. Devoted his time to Devoted his time to

chemical research.chemical research. Searched for the Searched for the

“elements” of “elements” of chemistry – the chemistry – the simplest substances.simplest substances.

Sought to be the Euclid Sought to be the Euclid of chemistry.of chemistry.


Lavoisier’s ideasLavoisier’s ideas

Lavoisier viewed heat as one of Lavoisier viewed heat as one of the elements, “caloric.”the elements, “caloric.”

Air he thought was compounded Air he thought was compounded of different substances.of different substances.

He thought that Priestley’s He thought that Priestley’s “dephlogisticated air” was “dephlogisticated air” was actually an element. actually an element.


Lavoisier’s classic Lavoisier’s classic experimentexperiment Lavoisier took Lavoisier took

mercury and a mercury and a measured volume measured volume of air and heated of air and heated them together. them together.

This produced a This produced a mercuric calx and mercuric calx and reduced the reduced the volume of the air.volume of the air.


Lavoisier’s classic Lavoisier’s classic experiment, 2experiment, 2

He then reheated the He then reheated the mercuric calx by itself at mercuric calx by itself at a lower temperature and a lower temperature and saw it go back to saw it go back to mercury.mercury.

In the process it produced In the process it produced a gas, equal in volume to a gas, equal in volume to the amount lost from the the amount lost from the first procedure.first procedure.


Lavoisier’s classic Lavoisier’s classic experiment, 3experiment, 3 Lavoisier concluded that instead of Lavoisier concluded that instead of

the original heating driving off the original heating driving off phlogiston from the mercury, the phlogiston from the mercury, the mercury was combining with some mercury was combining with some element in the air to form a element in the air to form a compound, which was the mercuric compound, which was the mercuric calx.calx.

He called that element “oxygen,” He called that element “oxygen,” meaning “acid maker.”meaning “acid maker.”


Oxygen displaces Oxygen displaces phlogistonphlogiston Phlogiston theory had everything upside Phlogiston theory had everything upside

down.down. Instead of driving off phlogiston during Instead of driving off phlogiston during

combustion, burning causes a compound combustion, burning causes a compound to form with the gas oxygen.to form with the gas oxygen.– In the case of a metal, the compound is the In the case of a metal, the compound is the

calx produced.calx produced.– In the case of something rich in carbon, e.g., In the case of something rich in carbon, e.g.,

wood, the compound is a gas, carbon dioxide.wood, the compound is a gas, carbon dioxide.


Phlogiston exitsPhlogiston exits

Phlogiston was an incorrect idea, Phlogiston was an incorrect idea, but it helped to sort out and but it helped to sort out and categorize chemical reactions.categorize chemical reactions.

When the chemical elements When the chemical elements were finally identified, phlogiston were finally identified, phlogiston was seen to be an effect, not a was seen to be an effect, not a substance.substance.


Lavoisier’s untimely Lavoisier’s untimely end.end.

Unlike Priestley who was persecuted for Unlike Priestley who was persecuted for being pro-republican, Lavoisier was too being pro-republican, Lavoisier was too closely associated with the French monarchy. closely associated with the French monarchy. During the French revolution he was arrested During the French revolution he was arrested by a mob and guillotined, bringing to an end by a mob and guillotined, bringing to an end a promising scientific career.a promising scientific career.


The Elements of The Elements of ChemistryChemistry Lavoisier’s goal was to identify the Lavoisier’s goal was to identify the

fundamental, elementary fundamental, elementary substances out of which all matter substances out of which all matter was made.was made.

He recognized that many ordinary He recognized that many ordinary substances (e.g., water) were substances (e.g., water) were actually made up of more actually made up of more elementary constituents.elementary constituents.– E.g., Hydrogen and Oxygen for water.E.g., Hydrogen and Oxygen for water.


Lavoisier’s List of Lavoisier’s List of ElementsElements

Before Lavoisier’s untimely death, he had established a list of the elements that he had identified. Note that the list includes Light and Heat.


John DaltonJohn Dalton

– 1766-18441766-1844 A 19A 19thth century Quaker century Quaker

schoolmaster in schoolmaster in Manchester, England.Manchester, England.

Dalton made a Dalton made a painstaking, methodical painstaking, methodical study of gases in the study of gases in the atmosphereatmosphere


Atoms and moleculesAtoms and molecules

Dalton’s central idea was that the Dalton’s central idea was that the elements come in discrete bits, or elements come in discrete bits, or particles, which he called particles, which he called atomsatoms – – the ancient Greek word for the ancient Greek word for indivisible units.indivisible units.

Atoms, he believed, formed Atoms, he believed, formed together in small clusters that he together in small clusters that he called called molecules.molecules.


Dalton’s moleculesDalton’s molecules

Dalton thought Dalton thought that (sperical) that (sperical) atoms were held atoms were held together in together in (spherical) (spherical) molecules in a molecules in a suspension of suspension of caloric. caloric.

Molecules of different substances. Atoms suspended in caloric.


Combining ratiosCombining ratios

In compounds, the constituent In compounds, the constituent elements always combine in a elements always combine in a constant ratio by weight.constant ratio by weight.

Dalton postulated that all atoms Dalton postulated that all atoms of the same element are of the same element are essentially identical and must essentially identical and must have the same mass.have the same mass.


Inferring the relative Inferring the relative sizes of atomssizes of atoms Dalton’s idea of a molecule was a small Dalton’s idea of a molecule was a small

number of atoms of each constituent number of atoms of each constituent element (e.g., one of each) bound element (e.g., one of each) bound together in a fixed way.together in a fixed way.

Example: waterExample: water– Made of oxygen and hydrogen.Made of oxygen and hydrogen.– The oxygen weighs seven times as much as The oxygen weighs seven times as much as

the hydrogen.the hydrogen.– So, assuming one atom of each, one So, assuming one atom of each, one

oxygen atom weighs seven times one oxygen atom weighs seven times one hydrogen atom.hydrogen atom.


Multiple ProportionsMultiple Proportions

Some elements form themselves Some elements form themselves into more than one compound.into more than one compound.

Example: carbon and oxygen Example: carbon and oxygen form two different gases.form two different gases.– In one gas: the carbon weighs ¾ In one gas: the carbon weighs ¾

that of oxygen.that of oxygen.– In the other gas: carbon weighs 3/8 In the other gas: carbon weighs 3/8

that of oxygen.that of oxygen.


Inferring composition Inferring composition of the compoundsof the compounds Taking the first gas as the simplest Taking the first gas as the simplest

case, it must contain one atom of case, it must contain one atom of carbon and one of oxygen (CO), carbon and one of oxygen (CO), and therefore a carbon atom has and therefore a carbon atom has ¾ the weight of an oxygen atom.¾ the weight of an oxygen atom.

The second gas must contain two The second gas must contain two atoms of oxygen and one of atoms of oxygen and one of carbon (COcarbon (CO22).).


A Pythagorean conceptA Pythagorean concept

Note that the function of atoms Note that the function of atoms for Dalton is much the same as for Dalton is much the same as that of numbers for Pythagoras.that of numbers for Pythagoras.– They are space-filling tiny spheres.They are space-filling tiny spheres.– They are the ultimate smallest units.They are the ultimate smallest units.– They combine in simple ratios of They combine in simple ratios of

whole numbers.whole numbers.


Chemistry and the Chemistry and the Mechanist ModelMechanist Model With Dalton, chemistry was With Dalton, chemistry was

completely expressed in completely expressed in mechanical concepts:mechanical concepts:– Mass and weightMass and weight– Matter and motionMatter and motion

Phlogiston, with its ancient Phlogiston, with its ancient concept of levity (lightness) had concept of levity (lightness) had no place in this model, and served no place in this model, and served no useful purpose as a concept.no useful purpose as a concept.


Heat: Heat: A substance or an A substance or an effect?effect? Heat was a mystery concept. Heat was a mystery concept.

Lavoisier viewed it as an element. Lavoisier viewed it as an element. Dalton kept this idea but gave it a Dalton kept this idea but gave it a special role – to hold a molecule special role – to hold a molecule together.together.

If heat was to fit into the If heat was to fit into the mechanical model, it had to be mechanical model, it had to be either matter or motion.either matter or motion.


Heat as matter or as Heat as matter or as motionmotion MatterMatter

– Lavoisier’s concept of caloric. It was Lavoisier’s concept of caloric. It was to be added and subtracted in to be added and subtracted in chemical reactions, just like matter.chemical reactions, just like matter.

MotionMotion– Heat could be produced by friction, Heat could be produced by friction,

i.e. motion.i.e. motion.


Count RumfordCount Rumford

Benjamin Thompson, an Benjamin Thompson, an American with American with monarchist sympathies, monarchist sympathies, fled to Germany and fled to Germany and became engaged in the became engaged in the manufacture of artillery.manufacture of artillery.

He was so popular in He was so popular in Gemany that he was Gemany that he was made “Count Rumford” made “Count Rumford” by the Elector of Bavaria. by the Elector of Bavaria.


Count Rumford and Count Rumford and the boring of cannon the boring of cannon shaftsshafts

Rumford developed a technique for making Rumford developed a technique for making straight-shooting cannons by boring out the straight-shooting cannons by boring out the shafts from a solid metal cylinder. shafts from a solid metal cylinder. – To prevent overheating the boring tool, he immersed To prevent overheating the boring tool, he immersed

the entire machine in water to keep the metal cool.the entire machine in water to keep the metal cool.


Unlimited heat from Unlimited heat from boringboring The cannon-making process The cannon-making process

produced so much heat that the produced so much heat that the water the machine was immersed water the machine was immersed in boiled away. No matter how in boiled away. No matter how often it was replenished, it often it was replenished, it continued to boil.continued to boil.

The heat was inexhaustible.The heat was inexhaustible.


Heat cannot be matterHeat cannot be matter

If the heat could be produced at If the heat could be produced at will, it could not be a substance, will, it could not be a substance, caloric, that was being released caloric, that was being released by the boring.by the boring.– It was a generally accepted principle It was a generally accepted principle

of the mechanist view of the world of the mechanist view of the world (and other views too) that the total (and other views too) that the total amount of matter in the world is a amount of matter in the world is a constant. constant.


Heat must be motionHeat must be motion

But unlimited amounts of heat But unlimited amounts of heat were being created by the motion were being created by the motion of the boring machine.of the boring machine.

In the mechanist world view, In the mechanist world view, there are only two kinds of things, there are only two kinds of things, matter matter andand motion. motion.

If heat was not a substance, it If heat was not a substance, it must be some kind of motion.must be some kind of motion.

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