DAVY, HUMPHRY - COMPOUND OR ELEMENTS ?

The Bakerian Lecture. An Account of some new analytical Researches on the Nature of certain Bodies, particularly the Alkalies, Phosphorus, Sulphur, Carbonaceous Matter, and the Acids hitherto undecompounded; with some general Observations on Chemical Theory. Read December 15, 1808.

(London, W. Bulmer and Co., 1809). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions" 1809 - Part I. Pp. 39-104 and 1 engraved plate showing some of the apparatus used in his electrochemical researches. Fine and clean.

First appearance of this importent paper in the history of chemistry.
In this paper "he tried one hypthesis after another to account for the ultimate constitution of matter and for the nature of acidity. He believed that the simplicity and harmony of nature demanded that there be very few ultimately distinct forms of matter; itis ironical that one who held that that the chemical elements were probably all compounds should have been such a frequent discoverer of new elements. Davy was particularlu confused by ammonium amalgam, a pasty material produced when ammonium salts are electrolyzed with a mercury cathode..."(DSB III, p. 602).- Partington IV, pp. 49 ff.

Order-nr.: 42988