Conversations on Chemistry

Before you are tempted to object to any law of nature, reflect whether it may not prove to be one of the numberless dispensations of Providence for our good.

Caution: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.

The nineteenth century was the era of the Celebrity Chemist, beginning with Humphry—later Sir Humphry—Davy (1778–1829). His public lectures created a need for something that would help attendees understand what he was talking about. Enter Jane Marcet (1769–1858), born Jane Haldimand.

In 1806 Jane Marcet made her first venture into popular science with Conversations on Chemistry. It would go through at least sixteen editions over the next half-century; the version you see here is the fifth edition, from 1817. By that time her next book, Conversations on Political Economy, was in its second edition. Other Conversations covered Natural Philosophy and Vegetable Physiology; she also co-authored Conversations on Botany.

For many years her books were published anonymously. But not too anonymously; the “Dr. Marcet” mentioned in a few footnotes and figure captions is the author’s husband.

Contents (this page)

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Preface (this page)

Volume I: On Simple Bodies

Volume II: On Compound Bodies

General Index (this page)

Illustrations

Alongside her other achievements, Jane Marcet was quite good at drawing scientific apparatus. Most Plates include the following text, engraved in small print:

Drawn by the Author / Engraved by Lowry / Published by Longman & C^o. Oct^r. 2^nd. 1809.

This date corresponds to the third edition. Plates V, X and XIII—each containing material new to the fifth edition—read only “Lowry sculp.”

For this ebook, illustrations have generally been moved as close as practicable to their discussion in the text, and some Plates have been divided into two parts for convenience. Page numbers shown alongside the Plates refer to their original placement in the printed book. Each illustration includes a link to a larger version of the full Plate.

Science

Terminology

Some essential concepts relating to living things—photosynthesis, microorganisms, the cell, proteins—are either unknown or not mentioned. The atom theory had been proposed, but not by Humphry Davy; it is not mentioned in this book.

The word “explode” is used at least once in its orginal, figurative sense (“a word that should be exploded in chemistry”) but far more often in its later, concrete one. The word “explosion” is always used concretely (“an explosion, or a detonation as chemists commonly call it”).

Many terms used in this book are different from the words used today. In alphabetical order:

General:

arts: industry, manufacture, crafts (seldom “fine arts”)
caoutchouc: rubber
fecula (usually spelled “fæcula”): starch
philosopher: scientist
simple body, fundamental principle: element

Specific:

carbonic acid: carbon dioxide
“columbium or tantalium”: niobium and tantalum
the two elements always occur together, and were not recognized as separate until much later in the 19th century
glucium: beryllium
Humphry Davy’s name for the element
oxy-muriatic acid: chlorine
proposed as an element in 1815: see Conversation XIX
muriat of lime: calcium chloride
muriat of soda: sodium chloride (table salt)
muriatic acid: hydrochloric acid
but still called “muriatic acid” for some commercial uses
oxymuriate of potash: potassium chlorate
phosphat of lime: calcium diphosphate or calcium
the element calcium was isolated in 1808, but is named only once in this 1817 edition
spirit of wine: alcohol

Calculated Values

“the point of zero, or the absolute privation of heat, must consequently be 1260 degrees below 32 degrees” (Conversation IV): That is, -1228° F. The calculation is based on wrong premises; the correct figure is about -460° F or -273° C.
“Mercury congeals only at seventy-two degrees below the freezing point.” (Conversation X): -40° F, which is also -40° C. This figure is correct, though approximate.
[ammonia] “consisted of about one part of hydrogen to four parts of nitrogen . . . . and from the latest and most accurate experiments, the proportions appear to be, one volume of nitrogen gas to three of hydrogen gas” (Conversation XIV)
“The proportion stated by Sir H. Davy, in his Chemical Researches, is as 1 to 2.389.” (Conversation XVIII): These and similar calculations involving relative weight and volume make more sense when one knows the elements’ atomic weights. For nitric acid, HNO₃, the figures are 1:14:48, giving a proportion closer to 1:3.5. For ammonia, NH₃ (not ₄), the figures are 14:3.
“The oxalic acid, distilled from sorrel, is the highest term of vegetable acidification; for, if more oxygen be added to it, it loses its vegetable nature, and is resolved into carbonic acid and water;” (Conversation XX): Oxalic acid = H₂C₂O₄; carbonic acid (carbon dioxide) = CO₂.
H₂C₂O₄ + O becomes H₂O + CO₂ + CO₂.

Spelling

Some words you may need to tell your spell checker to shut up about:

bason
embrio
volcanos (plural)
potatoe (singular)

In many cases the author herself couldn’t make up her mind:

aëriform, aeriform
dy(e)ing (from “dye”)
gasses, gases
Libya, Lybia
opake, opaque
phosphoret, phosphuret (but always carburet)
pla(i)ster
slak(e)ing
earthen-ware, earthen ware
“sulphurous” and “naphtha” are used in the Contents and Index; “sulphureous” and “naptha” in the body text
forms in “-xion” (such as “connexion”) appear only in the Contents and Index

To say nothing of:

capitalization of “Fig.” or “fig.”
hyphenization of words such as “oxy-muriatic”
“glauber salt” and “Glauber’s salt” both occur

Although the two volumes were published together, Volume I has more archaic forms than Volume II:

“shew”, “inclose” are sometimes used instead of “show”, “enclose”
“carbone” with final “e” appears in one Plate caption. (In the same plate’s header, the “e” appears to have been removed by the engraver.)
“develope(ment)” is more common in Volume I, “develop(ment)” in Volume II
“-ize” and “-yze” forms (for later “-ise” and “-yse”) are common in Volume I, rare in Volume II except in the Index

Chapter Numbering

The 3rd and 4th editions used the same Conversation (chapter) numbering. The apparent disappearance of XI and XII is the result of changes between the 4th and 5th (present text) editions:

Volume I: On Simple Bodies
4th edn.	5th edn.
I. II. III.	I. II. III.	No change
IV.	IV.	4th: On Specific Heat, Latent Heat, and Chemical Heat. 5th: On Combined Caloric, Comprehending Specific Heat and Latent Heat.
	V.	On The Chemical Agencies Of Electricity. Chapter added in 5th edition
V.	VI.	On Oxygen And Nitrogen.
VI.	VII.	On Hydrogen. 5th: new sections on Gas lights and Miner’s Lamp
VII.	VIII.	On Sulphur And Phosphorus. 5th: new section on Decomposition of Sulphur
VIII.	IX.	4th: On Carbone. 5th: On Carbon.
IX.	X.	On Metals.
X.		On Alkalies.
XI.		On Earths. Conversations X, XI were moved to Volume II as XIV, XV.
Volume II: On Compound Bodies
4th edn.	5th edn.
XII.	XIII.	On The Attraction Of Composition.
	XIV.	On Alkalies.
	XV.	On Earths. Conversations XIV, XV were previously X, XI in Volume I.
XIII.	XVI.	4th: On Compound Bodies. 5th: On Acids. Most of XIII, On Compound Bodies, became XVI, On Acids. Some introductory material was moved to XIV, On Alkalies.
XIV.	XVII.	4th: On The Combinations of Oxygen with Sulphur and with Phosphorus; and of the Sulphats And Phosphats. 5th: Of the Sulphuric and Phosphoric Acids: or, The Combinations of . . . .
XV.	XVIII.	4th: On The Combination of Oxygen with Nitrogen and with Carbone; and of The Nitrats And Carbonats. 5th: Of The Nitric And Carbonic Acids: Or The Combination of . . . .
XVI.	XIX.	4th: On Muriatic And Oxygenated Muriatic Acids; and on Muriats. 5th: On The Boracic, Fluoric, Muriatic, and Oxygenated Muriatic Acids; and on Muriats.
XVII.	XX.	On The Nature And Composition Of Vegetables.
Remainder of book: number in 4th edition + 3 = number in 5th edition.

Formalities

This ebook is based on the two-volume fifth edition of Conversations on Chemistry: Volume I; Volume II. The author’s preface, originally in Volume I, and the combined index, originally at the end of Volume II, are on this page. I’ve also added an abbreviated Table of Contents; the two volumes each have their own, more detailed Contents. Footnotes are grouped at the end of each Conversation; they have been renumbered within each volume.

Trivia: Humphry Davy was knighted in 1812, between the third and fourth edition of this book. In an era before Global Replace, the editor had to manually replace all occurrences of “Humphry” with “Sir H.”, presumably so line lengths wouldn’t be thrown too far out of whack.

Typographical errors are marked with mouse-hover popups and are listed again at the end of each chapter. The word “invisible” means that the letter or punctuation mark is missing, but there is an appropriately sized blank space.

Reminder: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.

Each volume has its own, detailed Table of Contents; here I simply give the Conversation titles. There are no Conversations XI and XII (see above). Volume II starts with Conversation XIII.

CONVERSATION I.
On the General Principles of Chemistry.	Page I.1
CONVERSATION II.
On Light and Heat.	I.26
CONVERSATION III.
Continuation of the Subject.	I.70
CONVERSATION IV.
On Combined Caloric, Comprehending Specific Heat and Latent Heat.	I.122
CONVERSATION V.
On the Chemical Agencies of Electricity.	I.160
CONVERSATION VI.
On Oxygen and Nitrogen.	I.181
CONVERSATION VII.
On Hydrogen.	I.214
CONVERSATION VIII.
On Sulphur and Phosphorus.	I.256
CONVERSATION IX.
On Carbon.	I.282
CONVERSATION X.
On Metals.	I.314
CONVERSATION XIII.
On the Attraction of Composition.	II.1
CONVERSATION XIV.
On Alkalies.	II.19
CONVERSATION XV.
On Earths.	II.44
CONVERSATION XVI.
On Acids.	II.69
CONVERSATION XVII.
Of the Sulphuric and Phosphoric Acids: Or, the Combinations of Oxygen with Sulphur and with Phosphorus; and of the Sulphats and Phosphats.	II.80
CONVERSATION XVIII.
Of the Nitric and Carbonic Acids: Or the Combination of Oxygen with Nitrogen and with Carbon; and of the Nitrats and Carbonats.	II.100
CONVERSATION XIX.
On the Boracic, Fluoric, Muriatic, and Oxygenated Muriatic Acids; and On Muriats.	II.131
CONVERSATION XX.
On the Nature and Composition of Vegetables.	II.162
CONVERSATION XXI.
On the Decomposition of Vegetables.	II.202
CONVERSATION XXII.
History of Vegetation.	II.243
CONVERSATION XXIII.
On the Composition of Animals.	II.276
CONVERSATION XXIV.
On the Animal Economy.	II.297
CONVERSATION XXV.
On Animalisation, Nutrition, and Respiration.	II.314
CONVERSATION XXVI.
On Animal Heat; and of Various Animal Products.	II.336

The Author, in this fifth edition, has endeavoured to give an account of the principal discoveries which have been made within the last four years in Chemical Science, and of the various important applications, such as the gas-lights, and the miner’s-lamp, to which they have given rise. But in regard to doctrines or principles, the work has undergone no material alteration.

London, July, 1817.

PREFACE.

In venturing to offer to the public, and more particularly to the female sex, an Introduction to Chemistry, the author, herself a woman, conceives that some explanation may be required; and she feels it the more necessary to apologise for the present undertaking, as her knowledge of the subject is but recent, and as she can have no real claims to the title of chemist.

On attending for the first time experimental lectures, the author found it almost impossible to derive any clear or satisfactory information from the rapid demonstrations which are usually, and perhaps necessarily, crowded into popular courses of this kind. But frequent opportunities having vi afterwards occurred of conversing with a friend on the subject of chemistry, and of repeating a variety of experiments, she became better acquainted with the principles of that science, and began to feel highly interested in its pursuit. It was then that she perceived, in attending the excellent lectures delivered at the Royal Institution, by the present Professor of Chemistry, the great advantage which her previous knowledge of the subject, slight as it was, gave her over others who had not enjoyed the same means of private instruction. Every fact or experiment attracted her attention, and served to explain some theory to which she was not a total stranger; and she had the gratification to find that the numerous and elegant illustrations, for which that school is so much distinguished, seldom failed to produce on her mind the effect for which they were intended.

Hence it was natural to infer, that familiar conversation was, in studies of this kind, a most useful auxiliary source of information; vii and more especially to the female sex, whose education is seldom calculated to prepare their minds for abstract ideas, or scientific language.

As, however, there are but few women who have access to this mode of instruction; and as the author was not acquainted with any book that could prove a substitute for it, she thought that it might be useful for beginners, as well as satisfactory to herself, to trace the steps by which she had acquired her little stock of chemical knowledge, and to record, in the form of dialogue, those ideas which she had first derived from conversation.

But to do this with sufficient method, and to fix upon a mode of arrangement, was an object of some difficulty. After much hesitation, and a degree of embarrassment, which, probably, the most competent chemical writers have often felt in common with the most superficial, a mode of division was adopted, which, though the most natural, does not always admit of being viii strictly pursued—it is that of treating first of the simplest bodies, and then gradually rising to the most intricate compounds.

It is not the author’s intention to enter into a minute vindication of this plan. But whatever may be its advantages or inconveniences, the method adopted in this work is such, that a young pupil, who should occasionally recur to it, with a view to procure information on particular subjects, might often find it obscure or unintelligible; for its various parts are so connected with each other as to form an uninterrupted chain of facts and reasonings, which will appear sufficiently clear and consistent to those only who may have patience to go through the whole work, or have previously devoted some attention to the subject.

It will, no doubt, be observed, that in the course of these Conversations, remarks are often introduced, which appear much too acute for the young pupils, by whom ix they are supposed to be made. Of this fault the author is fully aware. But, in order to avoid it, it would have been necessary either to omit a variety of useful illustrations, or to submit to such minute explanations and frequent repetitions, as would have rendered the work tedious, and therefore less suited to its intended purpose.

In writing these pages, the author was more than once checked in her progress by the apprehension that such an attempt might be considered by some, either as unsuited to the ordinary pursuits of her sex, or ill-justified by her own recent and imperfect knowledge of the subject. But, on the one hand, she felt encouraged by the establishment of those public institutions, open to both sexes, for the dissemination of philosophical knowledge, which clearly prove that the general opinion no longer excludes women from an acquaintance with the elements of science; and, on the other, she flattered herself that whilst the impressions made upon her mind, by the wonders x of Nature, studied in this new point of view, were still fresh and strong, she might perhaps succeed the better in communicating to others the sentiments she herself experienced.

The reader will soon perceive, in perusing this work, that he is often supposed to have previously acquired some slight knowledge of natural philosophy, a circumstance, indeed, which appears very desirable. The author’s original intention was to commence this work by a small tract, explaining, on a plan analogous to this, the most essential rudiments of that science. This idea she has since abandoned; but the manuscript was ready, and might, perhaps, have been printed at some future period, had not an elementary work of a similar description, under the tide of “Scientific Dialogues,” been pointed out to her, which, on a rapid perusal, she thought very ingenious, and well calculated to answer its intended object.

I.xvi

ERRATA.

Vol. I. page 56.	last line but one, for “caloric,” read “calorific.”
179.	Note, for “Plate XII.” r. “Plate XIII.”

Notes and Corrections: Preface

Impressively, I found no typographical errors in the Preface.

The Errata section is included for completeness. The listed corrections have been made in the text—along with quite a few others that the author overlooked.

II.363