Cover image for Chemistry at Oxford : a history from 1600 to 2005
Title:
Chemistry at Oxford : a history from 1600 to 2005
Publication Information:
Cambridge, UK : Royal Society of Chemistry, 2009
Physical Description:
x, 308 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
ISBN:
9780854041398

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30000010209400 QD49.G7 C57 2009 Open Access Book Book
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Summary

Summary

This fascinating and unique history reveals the major influence of the Oxford Chemistry School on the advancement of chemistry. It shows how the nature of the University, and individuals within it, have shaped the school and made great achievements both in teaching and research. The book will appeal to those interested in the history of science and education, the city of Oxford and chemistry in general. Chemistry has been studied in Oxford for centuries but this book focuses on the last 400 years and, in particular, the seminal work of Robert Boyle, Robert Hooke, and the proto- Royal Society of the 1650's. Arranged in chronological fashion, it includes specialist studies of particular areas of innovation. The book shows that chemistry has advanced, not just as a consequence of research but, because of the idiosynchratic nature of the collegiate system and the characters of the individuals involved. In other words, it demonstrates that science is a human endeavour and its advance in any institution is conditioned by the organization and people within it. For chemists, the main appeal will be the book's examination of the way separate branches of chemistry (organic, physical, inorganic and biological) have evolved in Oxford. It also enables comparison with the development of the subject at other universities such as Cambridge, London and Manchester. For historians and sociologists, the book reveals the motivations of both scientists and non-scientists in the management of the School. It exposes the unusual character of Oxford University and the tensions between science and administration. The desire of the college to retain its academic values in the face of external and financial pressures is emphasized.


Author Notes

Dr Allan Chapman is a member of the Faculty of Modern History at Oxford University. After earning a first class honours degree at Lancaster University, Dr Chapman went on to obtain a DPhil at Oxford before reaching MA status in 1983. He became the Royal Society Prize Lecturer in 1994 and the University of Central Lancashire awarded him an honorary Doctorate in 2004. Dr Chapman has written eight books and contributed approximately eighty papers to major academic journals. He has also been involved with TV and radio programmes on science history, including two major documentary series. He lectures extensively in the UK and abroad. J.S. Rowlinson was Dr Lee's Professor of Chemistry at Oxford University between 1974 and 1993. He is a fellow of the Royal Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Society of Engineering and the Institute of Chemical Engineering. He is author or co-author of five books on physics, chemistry and engineering and four books on the history of science. R.J. P. Williams is Emeritus Professor at the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford. He started lecturering at Oxford in 1955 and became the Royal Society Research Professor in 1974. He is a fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He has four honorary degrees in science and is fellow of four foreign academies.


Reviews 1

Choice Review

The pioneering 400-plus-year history of chemistry at this 800-year-old institution is well rendered in this multiauthored monograph. Along with Cambridge, Oxford University has a unique organization, based on a bottom-up approach with fellows of the constituent colleges retaining much of the administrative control. However, the university hierarchy with its power of financing (via the government) and appointment of professors has altered this structure, especially in chemistry. This book covers the transition from Aristotelian science and alchemy to modern chemistry and discusses associated great scientists such as Robert Boyle, William Perkin, and Robert Robinson. Contributors detail the evolution of Oxford chemistry in teaching (tutorial through lecture/demonstrations) and in research (from labs in basements, houses, and apothecaries, through large, distinct departmental laboratories and spin-off companies). The comparison of the evolution of the disciplines of chemistry with those of other universities is of interest. Although Oxford chemistry is more isolated than most from the "real world," cooperation with industry did evolve to some extent, and extensive contributions were made during WW II. Of interest to chemists, science historians, and administrators, as well as anyone interested in this venerable institution. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional audiences. R. E. Buntrock formerly, University of Maine


Table of Contents

Chapter 1 An Outline of the History of Oxford University with Reference to its Chemistry SchoolRobert J.P. Williams
1.1 An Introduction to the Universityp. 1
1.2 The Beginnings of Chemistry within the Universityp. 4
1.3 The Creation of Chemistry Departmentsp. 8
1.4 The Teaching of Chemistryp. 12
1.5 A Summary of Chemistry's Developmentp. 13
Referencesp. 15
Chapter 2 From Alchemy to Airpumps: The Foundations of Oxford Chemistry to 1700Allan Chapman
2.1 Late Medieval English Alchemyp. 17
2.2 The Hon. Robert Boyle and his Chemical Worldp. 20
2.3 Where were the Laboratories?p. 25
2.4 Oxford's `Invisible' Chemists: The City Apothecaries and their Laboratoriesp. 26
2.5 The Oxford Airpump Discoveriesp. 30
2.6 John Mayowp. 34
2.7 Thomas Willisp. 36
2.8 The Revd John Ward: Amateur Chemist and Physicianp. 38
2.9 The Ashmolean Laboratory, 1683p. 40
Acknowledgementsp. 45
Notes and Referencesp. 46
Chapter 3 The Eighteenth Century: Chemistry Allied to AnatomyPeter J. T. Morris
3.1 Introductionp. 52
3.2 Chemistry in the Eighteenth Centuryp. 53
3.3 Oxford in the Eighteenth Centuryp. 56
3.4 The Teaching of Chemistry in Eighteenth-Century Oxfordp. 58
3.5 The Revival of Chemistry after 1775p. 65
3.6 Conclusionp. 71
References and Notesp. 73
Chapter 4 Chemistry Comes of Age: The 19th CenturyJohn S. Rowlinson
4.1 The Aldrichian Chairp. 79
4.2 Charles Daubeny and Reformp. 83
4.3 The Museump. 93
4.4 Benjamin Brodiep. 96
4.5 William Odling and his Demonstratorsp. 103
4.6 The College Laboratories and the Growth of Physical Chemistryp. 113
Referencesp. 123
Chapter 5 Research as the Thing: Oxford Chemistry 1912-1939Jack Morrell
5.1 Introductionp. 131
5.2 The Impact of Perkinp. 132
5.3 The Contributions of the Collegesp. 141
5.4 The Mancunian Inheritancep. 157
5.5 The Dr Lee's Chair and Old Chemistryp. 164
5.6 The Chemical Synthesiserp. 170
5.7 X-Ray Crystallographyp. 173
5.8 Careers: The Lure of Industryp. 175
5.9 Conclusionp. 178
Notes and Referencesp. 179
Chapter 6 Interlude: Chemists at WarJohn S. Rowlinson
Referencesp. 192
Chapter 7 Recent Times, 1945-2005: A School of World RenownRobert J.P. Williams
7.1 General Introduction to the Period: The Three Centres of Influencep. 195
7.1.1 The Three Periods 1945 to 1965, 1965 to 1980, 1980 to Todayp. 199
7.1.2 Summaryp. 204
7.2 Recruitment and the Nature of Professorships and Fellowship/Lectureshipsp. 206
7.2.1 A Note on Women Fellows in Chemistryp. 213
7.3 The Undergraduate Entry into Oxford and the Chemistry Coursep. 213
7.3.1 The Butler Education Act 1944p. 213
7.3.2 The Structure of the Chemistry Coursep. 216
7.3.3 The Content of the Undergraduate Coursep. 218
7.3.4 The Graduate Schoolp. 224
7.4 The Three Professors and the Three Departments of 1945p. 225
7.4.1 Hinshelwood and Physical Chemistryp. 226
7.4.2 Robinson and Organic Chemistryp. 231
7.4.3 The Third Professor: Sidgwickp. 236
7.4.4 The Acting Heads and Nature of the Third Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry (1945-1963)p. 238
7.5 Research 1945 to 1965p. 241
7.5.1 Theory and Mathematical Researchp. 244
7.5.2 Summaryp. 246
7.6 Research 1965 to 1980p. 247
7.6.1 The Revival of Inorganic Chemistryp. 247
7.6.2 Organo-Metallic Chemistryp. 251
7.6.3 Traditional Organic Chemistryp. 253
7.6.4 Physical Chemistryp. 254
7.6.5 Chemical Crystallography and Biophysicsp. 256
7.6.6 Theoretical Chemistry and its Short-Lived Departmentp. 258
7.6.7 The Enzyme Groupp. 258
7.6.8 Life in Oxford, 1945-1980p. 261
7.7 Research: 1980 to 2005p. 262
7.7.1 Introductionp. 262
7.7.2 Physical Chemistryp. 263
7.7.3 Theoretical Chemistry Departmentp. 266
7.7.4 Organic Chemistryp. 267
7.7.5 Inorganic Chemistryp. 270
7.7.6 Oxford Chemistry Today, 2008p. 273
Appendix 1 The Laboratoriesp. 275
Acknowledgementp. 282
Appendix 2 The Chemistry School Financesp. 282
Acknowledgementp. 283
Notes on Oxford Universityp. 283
Referencesp. 286
Index of Namesp. 292
Index of Subjectsp. 301