Chemical Structure, Spatial Arrangement: The Early History of Stereochemistry, 1874-1914 (Studies in the History of Science)

Offering a comprehensive narrative of the early history of stereochemistry, this volume explores the reasons for, and the consequences of, the fundamental change in the meaning of chemical formulas with the emergence of stereochemistry during the last quarter of the 19th century. As yet relatively unexplored by historians, the development of stereochemistry - the study of the three-dimensional properties of molecules - provides a superb case study for exploring the meaning and purpose of chemical formulas, as it entailed a significant change in the meaning of chemical formulas from the purely chemical conception of "structure" to the physico-chemical conception of molecules provided by the tetrahedral carbon atom. By addressing the philosophical issues raised, the volume also suggests ways in which philosophers of science can benefit from considering chemical theory.