DAVY, HUMPHRY. - THE ISOLATION OF FLOURINE.

Some Experiments and Observations on the Substances produced in different chemical Processes on Fluor Spar. Read July 8, 1813.

(London, W. Bulmer and Co., 1813). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions" 1813 - Part II. Pp. 263-279. Clean and fine.

First printing of an importent paper in the history of chemistry in which he decomposited ammonium salts by heated potassium.
"In 1812 Davy,,,,said that fluoboric acid and fluosilicic acid are 'compounds of a principle unknown in the separate state but analogous to chlorine, with silicium and boron', and 'the hydrofluoric acid is a compound of the same principle with hydrogene and water'. In 1813-14 ( 1813 the paper offered) Davy described his attempts to isolate the radical, which following a sugesstion by Ampere, he called fluorine.." (Partington IV, p.58).

"Humphry Davy was one of the most brilliant chemists of the early nineteenth century. His early study of nitrous oxide brought him his first reputation, but his later and most importent investigations were devoted to electrochemistry. Following Galvani's experiments and the discovery of the voltaic pile, interest in galvanic electricity had become widespread. The first electrolysis by means of the pile was carried out in 1800 by Nicholson and Carisle, who obtained oxygen and hydrogen from water. Davy began to examine the chemical effects of electricity in 1800, and his numerous discoveries were presented in his Bakerian lectures."

Another paper printed together with Davy's paper: John Pond: "Catalogue of North Pole Distances of Eighty-four principal fixed Stars, deduced from Observations made with the Mural Circle at the Royal Observatory.", pp. 280-304.

Order-nr.: 42919