Chemical structure, spatial arrangement : the early history of stereochemistry, 1874-1914

Peter J. Ramberg Chemical Structure, Spatial Arrangement: The Early History of Stereochemistry, 1874-1914 (Science, technology and culture 1700-1945) xxiv +350 pp. Appendices, bibliography, index. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing Company; (October 2003). Hardcover $99.95

Reviewed by Dr W. P. Palmer

Peter J. Ramberg's book Chemical Structure, Spatial Arrangement: The Early History of Stereochemistry, 1874-1914 is a further publication of the valuable series of publications `Science, technology and culture 1700-1945', which are edited by David Knight and Trevor Levere; the high quality of the series should assure the reader of the quality of this book. The preface sets the historical context for the understanding of the book.

The subject is of particular interest to stereochemists, organic chemists and more generally to chemical historians. The problems in tackling this subject are many, but perhaps the most difficult is to convince those living in the twenty-first century of the skepticism that chemists in the middle of the nineteenth century had for the concept of the atom. Yes, they believed in atoms in a general sort of way, and considered the data on atomic masses to be useful in performing some calculations, but it was generally accepted that the existence of atoms could not be proved and that it would never be possible to know about the structure or arrangement of atoms. Amongst older chemists, the idea of knowing the geometry of molecules just appeared ridiculous. Over the period 1874 -1914, this view was changing; younger chemical researchers began to have different views of atoms and molecules to older chemists. All in all, there was perhaps less resistance to the new ideas than might have been expected. This book is an important case study illustrative of these different views in the particular instance of stereochemistry.

A further feature of the book of special interest to this reviewer is the use of the words physical and chemical. Sometimes the teaching profession is advised that using the words physical and chemical as a contrasting pair is inappropriate. The reading of this book shows the usefulness of these descriptors in a variety of different contexts.

The book consists of nine chapters, six useful appendices and a well-researched bibliography. The first chapter is entitled Introduction: 'Van't Hoff's gold mines'; it gives a brief contextual account of stereochemistry, the main themes of the book, major literature in the area, and an overview of its importance. The second chapter considers The historical development of organic chemistry to 1874. This chapter sets the institutional framework to German chemistry and examines the theory, and methods of organic chemistry of the time up to 1874. The reader will note and perhaps question the reasons for the concentration on the German input into stereochemistry.

Chapter 3 is headed The tetrahedral carbon atom, 1874-1877 and introduces the Dutch chemist, Van't Hoff, and the French chemist, Le Bel, and their theory of a chemistry in space. The various modifications of the theory by Van't Hoff are compared in order to show how stereochemistry developed after 1874.

The fourth chapter Initial reception of the tetrahedron, 1874-1887, illustrates how chemists generally received Van't Hoff's theory. Le Bel did not continue to figure in the debate after his initial paper. Van't Hoff's conduct is exemplary and a model for younger chemists today in that even when Le Bel takes little further interest, Van't Hoff continues to give him recognition for his earlier work. This reviewer's favourite quotation is included in this chapter (p.95) and is an angry denunciation of the theory by the German chemist Kolbe who accuses Van't Hoff of `frivolous puffery' for daring to produce the pamphlet 'The Arrangements of Atoms in Space' and states that Van't Hoff has `no taste for accurate chemical research'. It is humbling to look at the past and reflect on how wrong these words sound now. Perhaps Kolbe may be forgiven as he was suffering from depression at the time.

In chapter 5 Johannes Wislicenus and molecular dynamics, Johannes Wislicenus is introduced to the reader. He is not now a particularly well known chemist, but he is this book's central character and Wislicenus's influence on the evolving science of stereochemistry continues in the next two chapters. In chapter 6, Victor Meyer's ideas are introduced and in Chapter 7 Arthur Hantzsch's research on the stereochemistry of nitrogen is explained. Chapter 8 presents Emil Fischer and carbohydrate chemistry. The book completes the history of stereochemistry with the Nobel prize-winning studies of Alfred Werner into coordination chemistry. In the final chapter, Ramberg summarises the earlier materials and weaves them together to present a compact history. No major errors were noted and there about 100 well-drawn figures that are essential to explain the concepts being explained.

It is an excellent book though the high price may well encourage some chemists to consider borrowing it from the library copy rather than purchasing it.

BILL PALMER

Review previously published by Palmer, W. P. (2005) Review of `Peter J. Ramberg Chemical Structure, Spatial Arrangement: The Early History of Stereochemistry, 1874-1914', Isis, Vol 96, No. 2 (June, p. 304).