THE BEGINNING OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

WÖHLER, FRIEDRICH.

Ueber künstliche Bildung des Harnstoffs.

(Leipzig, 1828). 8vo. Pages 253-56 extracted from volume 12 of Annalen der Physik und Chemie. Recent paper wrappers.

First edition of this foundation work of organic chemistry. The first synthetic preparation of an organic compound from inorganic materials. Wöhler's most important contribution to chemistry is his synthesis of urea by heating ammonium cyanate. This discovery destroyed the vitalistic theory which held that organic compounds could be produced only by living organisms, and led eventually to the brilliant results that have been achieved in attempts to synthesize other organic compounds. The work is generally regarded as being the beginning of organic chemistry.

Dibner: Heralds of Science, no. 45.
Sparrow: Milestones of Science, no. 197
Garrison & Morton, no. 671.

Order-nr.: 29787