Chemical Sciences in the 20th Century: Bridging Boundaries

Carsten Reinhardt, Roald Hoffmann9783527302710, 3527302719

Chemistry in the last century was characterized by spectacular growth and advances, stimulated by revolutionary theories and experimental breakthroughs. Yet, despite this rapid development, the history of this scientific discipline has achieved only recently the status necessary to understand the effects of chemistry on the scientific and technologicalculture of the modern world.This book addresses the bridging of boundaries between chemistry and the other “classical” disciplines of science, physics and biology as well as the connections of chemistry tomathematics and technology.Chemical research is represented as an interconnected patchwork of scientific specialties, and this is shown by a mixture of case studies and broader overviews on the history of organic chemistry, theoretical chemistry, nuclear- and cosmochemistry, solid state chemistry, and biotechnology. All of these fields were at the center of the development of twentieth century chemistry, and the authors cover crucial topics such as the emergence of new subdisciplines andresearch fields, the science-technology relationship, and national styles of scientific work.This monograph represents a unique treasure trove for general historians and historians of science, while also appealing tothose interested in the theoretical background and development of modern chemistry.