CHENEVIX, RICHARD. - A PAPER CAUSING A SCANDAL.

Enquiries concerning the Nature of a metallic Substance lately sold in London, as a new Metal, under the Title of Palladium. read May 12, 1803.

(London, W. Bulmer and Co., 1803). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions" 1803 - Part II. Pp.290-320. A few faint brownspots to margins.

First printing of this controversial paper in the history of chemistry.

"In 1803 an anonymous handbill was circulated among British scientists. It announced the isolation of a new chemical element, palladium or "new silver", and offered the metal for sale. Chenevix, believing the announcement to be a fraud, purchased the whole stock. He set about analyzing it with the preconceived notion that it was an alloy of platinum and mercury. After a series of laborious experiments, he concluded that palladium was in fact an amalgam of platinum made in some peculier way. His report to the Royal Society (the paper offered) caused a sensation. Not long after, Wollaston read to the society a paper in which he declared himself the author of the handbill and the discoverer of two new elements in crude platinum ore - namely, palladium and rhodium. About 1804, with his scientific reputation badly damaged, Chenevix left England and went to France, where he lived for the remainder of his life."(DSB III, p. 232).
A paper by Thomas Andrew Knight is printed together with Chenevix' paper: "Account of some Experiments on the Sescent of the Sap in Trees.", pp. 277-289 a. 1 engraved plate.

Order-nr.: 42943