Thursday, December 13, 2012

Review: The analysis of inorganic bodies


The analysis of inorganic bodies
The analysis of inorganic bodies by Jöns Jacob Berzelius

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



...to gratify the desire of many of Berzelius acquaintance, and because he was him­self convinced, that a treatise of this kind, short though it be, could not fail to be interesting, coming from a philosopher who has so much contributed to give perfection not only to analysis, but also to chemistry in general; for there are few branches of science that he has not elucidated by his researches, or extended by his labours. And though his countryman Scheel has rendered himself illustrious by showing what genius, combating against fate, could effect with small means, Berzelius has displayed in its full extent, the example of what genius can effect under favourable circumstances.
When none of this s are to be had, lit­tle glass re­torts, which may I self-blown with the least fusible glass, may I used: these lit­tle re­torts can be em­ployed when the ex­am­i­na­tion is made at a mod­er­ate heat, sucff as that from the spirit lamp.

The retort is now balanced, and the substance for analysis is then placed in it, either entire or in powder, according to circumstances, and is weighed. In this way the loss is avoided, which would necessarily take place if the powder were weighed first and then placed in the retort. The neck of the retort is next adapted to the receiver, and a tube of caoutchouc is used for this purpose, without jointure, such as is obtained by cutting the necks of common caoutchouc bottles...

Just remember, a glass in the lab have the name...Berzelius.



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