DEVILLE, H. SAINTE-CLAIRE - INTRODUCING "DISSOCIATION" IN CHEMISTRY.

De la dissociation ou décomposition spontanée des corps sous l'influence de la chaleur.

(Paris, Gauthier-Villars), 1857. 4to. No wrappers. In: "Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de L'Academie des Sciences", Tome 45, No 21. Pp. 833-908 (entire issue offered). Deville's paper: pp. 857-861.

First printing of Deville's first paper on "Dissociation", establishing a new type of high temperature chemistry.

"The effect of heat on chemical reactions was of particular interest. From the time of Bergman it had been realized that reactions often followed a course at high temperatures which differed from that followed at lower ones. In 1857, Henri Deville began a eries of studies which established quantitatively a new type of high- temperature reaction... In the course of his studies on the preparation of sodium and potassium and their use as reducing agents in the manufacture of other metals, Deville often used high temperatures. He was aware of the decompositions which often occurred under these conditions, and he suspected that such decompositions were of very frequent occurrence. He therfore undertook the study of reactions which occurred reversibly at high temperature. Such reactions he called 'dissociations', and by an extensive series of studies he showed the importence of dissociation as a general phenomenon in chemistry." (Leicester a. Klickstein "A Source Book in Chemistry", pp. 392 ff.).

Order-nr.: 47027