Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
dying industries or any other industry, he will be familiarized with the
methods of fabrication within half an hour; and he will allow substantial
improvements within the first hour.” Thanks to the knowledge of the
bases and laws of science, applications were easy and would automati-
cally follow (ibid.).
His visits of factories and his discussions with men such as W. Crum,
J. Muspratt, Ch. Macintosh, and Trueman made Liebig more concerned
with industrial problems than before. He became convinced that develop-
ing the teaching of chemistry and making it more popular at the state
level as well as in the common mind, was the primary aim. Just after
Liebig's return to Giessen, Thomas Graham wrote to Liebig, “my ambi-
tion and the object of my life will be to raise something like a chemical
school in London, and your example of success is my most efficient
stimulus”. 9
Another outcome of Liebig's travel was the enthusiastic reception of
his memoir on uric acid, read by Faraday himself. This made him con-
scious that he had to play a prominent role in the chemical scene in
Europe. He was ensured of the alliance of “all the northern chemists”.
Although “England was not the country of science”, he had to promote
chemistry in this country where “the chemists are ashamed to be called
chemists” and where the druggists, who are called chemists, are de-
spised. 10 The acclamation of the English chemists, who asked him to
write a Report on organic chemistry, made Liebig even more a leader in
organic chemistry, which “exercises an immense influence over medi-
cine, over manufactures, and over common life” (Liebig 1837).
Back in Giessen at the end of 1837, Liebig was convinced to play an
important role in popularizing chemistry in Europe. Part of this project
was to unite Dumas and Graham as co-editors of the Annalen : “Your
grand idea of a chemical journal to be published in the three languages
delights me. I see no other means so likely to revive an interest in true
Chemistry in my own country.” 11 In 1840, the Annalen der Pharmacie
became the Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie .
9
Graham to Liebig, 17 Oct. 1837.
10
Liebig to Berzelius, 26 Nov. 1837.
11
Graham to Liebig, 25 Nov. 1837.
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