Treatise on general and industrial organic chemistry / Tr. from the 2d enl. and revised Italian edition by Thomas H. Pope.

  • Molinari, Ettore, 1867-1926.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Treatise on general and industrial organic chemistry / Tr. from the 2d enl. and revised Italian edition by Thomas H. Pope. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    4 PREFACE TO THE FIRST ITALIAN EDITION A new treatise on Organic Chemistry might, in view of thè existence of^the excellent works of Bernthsen and Holleman, be considered superfluous. But both of these books, which differ little in thè manner in which thè subject is developecl, are confìned to a theoretical and systematic exposition of thè many organic compounds, thè industriai side of thè question and thè applications of these compounds being almost entirely neglected. It is hence difficult for thè student to ascertain which of thè thousands of substances described are reallyof practical importance. Modern teaching of chemistry adheres in a too one-sided manner to thè old but fruitful idea of Liebig, that “ to obtain a sound practical man it is necessary to traili a good theorist.'’ This conception was taken too literally, although it gave good results when Chemical industry was in its infancy, silice in those days any theorist could easily introduce new and important methods. But to-day, when thè industry has attainecl thè adult stage—has advanced to such an extent and become so variecl and complex, being stimulated incessantly by keen national and international competition, which demands rapici changes and improvements—thè valuable time of thè young technician cannot be wastecl in a protraeteci ancl sometimes sterile apprenticeship. Present- day conclitions require, therefore, some such expansion of Liebig’s maxim as thè following : In orcler to produce, rapidly ancl with increasecl certainty, a souncl, practical man, it is necessary to traili a goocl theorist ancl to initiate him into both thè theoretical ancl practical study of thè more salient industriai problems. It does not sufhce that thè young chemist, about to begin his industriai or teaching career, shoulcl have a thorough knowledge, for instance, of thè various syntheses ancl constitutional formulse of thè sugars. He shoulcl also be acquai ntecl with at least thè generai outlines of thè industriai processes and of thè technique of thè manufacture of sugar, beginning with thè slicing of thè beets ancl proceecling to thè exhaustion of thè pulp, defecatimi, saturation, filtration with filter-presses, boiling, ancl vacuimi concentration in multiple- effect apparatus, relining ancl centrifugation of sugar crystals, utilisation of residues, and so 011. He shoulcl, indeed, understancl thè plant ancl Chemical processes of thè more important industries, as these often filici application in thè manufacture of produets of a secondary or entirely new character. What would avail a study of thè wonclerful artificial colouring-matters derivecl from coal-tar, with thè inexhaustible syntheses composing their theo- retical basis, if it were limited to a simple mnemonic exercise for thè student and no notice were taken of thè interesting practical applications to thè dyeing of thè various textile fibres ? Nor shoulcl thè young student ignore statistics of production ; he shoulcl be able to appreciate thè importance of variations in thè exportation ancl importation of thè principal Chemical produets, ancl to judge of thè economie and social conclitions with which such variations correspond. After a brief novitiate, he should be in a position to point out thè more striking technical defeets and thè more markecl difficulties met with in par- ticular industriai processes and to suggest rational and not fanciful remedies