English· 5:11:17· 14 chapters
A light journey through the history of chemistry, from its start in the obscure mysteries of alchemy to what was, for the author, the cutting edge of the development of modern atomic theory ... and whose developing blind ends we can now see with the advantage of hind sight. (Summary by Peter Yearsley)
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Chapters
- Chapter 1
The explanation of material changes given by Greek Thinkers
27:40 - Chapter 2
A sketch of alchemical theory
22:17 - Chapter 3
The alchemical notion of the unity and simplicity of nature
13:46 - Chapter 4
The alchemical elements and principles
21:09 - Chapter 5
The alchemical essence
30:49 - Chapter 6
Alchemy as an experimental art
17:26 - Chapter 7
The Language of alchemy
15:42 - Chapter 8
The Degeneracy of Alchemy
15:40 - Chapter 9
Paracelsus and some other alchemists
11:50 - Chapter 10
Summary of the alchemical doctrine -- the replacement of the Three Principles of the alchemists by the single principle of Phlogiston
30:03 - Chapter 11
The examination of the phenomena of combustion
25:29 - Chapter 12
The recognition of chemical changes as the interactions of definite substances
13:05 - Chapter 13
The chemical elements contrasted with the alchemical principles
25:01 - Chapter 14
The modern form of the alchemical quest of the One Thing
41:20