An Introduction to Chemical Philosophy According to the Modern Theories (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 Excerpt: ...chlorides----4H4e2 e and e4H4e, cis H J CI because each of the two groups H9 can be replaced by an atom of chlorine; lastly, two amides, because each of these two groups can be replaced by a group NH2..If we next pass to a compound of a higher order--glycerine, for example, the formula (W"U H3 J B3 shows us immediately the triatomic nature of this combination; it reminds us that three atoms of its hydrogen may each be replaced by a radical of acid, that the three groups (or typical residues) H9 which it contains may be replaced by chlorine, bromine, or by groups of NH2, and that three series of combinations may occur in consequence of these substitutions. What can be more convincing, or more simple, than the way in which the theory explains all these exchanges? What clearness it gives to the generating equations which we have already mentioned in the preceding pages, and which we might multiply indefinitely But for what purpose, since the question is evident almost d priori? The theory of types takes its origin from a sounder interpretation of an immense number of reactions which it regards as double decompositions. It is their symbolic representation. It is quite natural, then, that it should account in a satisfactory manner for these same properties which M. Kekule has called typical, and which have reference to the very exchanges under discussion. In place of all this, what do we see in the original formulae? Nothing but the relative size of the molecules. What do the formulae tell us concerning the relationship between acetic acid and acetic ether, and how would the second allow us to distinguish between acetic ether and the isomeric tnethylpropionic ether, propylformic ether, and butyric acid? These formula are absolutely useless for this obj...