CHAPTER I.
ALCHEMY: AND THE DAWN OF CHEMISTRY.
Beginnings of natural knowledge—Chemistry in the Middle Ages—Alchemy—The phlogistic theory [5]
CHAPTER II.
ESTABLISHMENT OF CHEMISTRY AS A SCIENCE—PERIOD OF BLACK, PRIESTLEY AND LAVOISIER.
Introduction of accurate measurements into chemistry—Black's researches on alkalis and on fixed air—His conception of heat—Priestley's experiments on airs—His discovery of oxygen—Lavoisier, the founder of the science of chemistry—He clearly establishes a connection between composition and properties of bodies [30]
CHAPTER III.
ESTABLISHMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CHEMICAL SCIENCE—PERIOD OF DALTON.
Dalton's training in physical science—He revives and renders quantitative the atomic theory—The term "atom" is applied by him to elements and compounds alike—His rules for chemical synthesis [106]