HPS211H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Virtual Work, Operational Definition, Joseph-Louis Lagrange
21 May 2012
School
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Major topic of research during the chemical revolution was weight: origin of chemistry & alchemy. Transformation of matter (i. e. salts/crystals dissolving in acidic water) Aristotle has a theory for the cause of the transformation of matter. 4 elements: air (wet, hot), fire (hot, dry), earth (dry, cold), and water (cold, wet) Combination of elements indicates a substances" properties. Alchemy: interested in transformation of matter for not only intellectual reason but also practical reasons. The acts/skills of transforming base metals into gold (precious metal) (i. e. copper into gold) Alchemists witnessed a lot of matter transformation (i. e. liquid to solid, etc. ) Therefore, assumed the possibility of transforming base metals into gold. Alchemical 3 principles: mercury, sulphur, and salt. Not necessarily in contradiction with aristotelian elements. Abstract elements cannot be found in our daily lives. 3 principles responsible for the chemical properties of substances. Alchemy far from primitive; associated with magic, charlatan, witchcraft, etc.
