Ancient times

In the ancient times" the 1950s), data were transferred to computers by using punched cards. But already in 1959 Ascher Opier from Dow Chemical Company reported the use of a light pen for graphical entiy of chemical structures into a computer. Light pens were also used in the Chemical Abstracts Service in the 1970s. 

Anglo-Saxon, Seolfor siolfur L. argentum) Silver has been known since ancient times. It is mentioned in Genesis. Slag dumps in Asia Minor and on islands in the Aegean Sea indicate that man learned to separate silver from lead as earl as 3000 B.C. 

The important role wines and their production have had in ancient times as well as in more modem periods of history, particularly in relation to science and technology, deserves wider appreciation. 

The flax fiber from the aimual plant IJnum usitatissimum (flax family, Liuaceae) has been used siuce ancient times as the fiber for linen. The plant grows iu temperate, moderately moist climates, for example, iu Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, and Russia. The plant is also cultivated for its seed, from which linseed oil is produced. A by-product of the seed plant is the tow fiber used iu papermakiug. 

Cells of microorganisms have constituted a portion of human food siace ancient times. Yeast-leavened baked products contain the residual nutrients from the yeast cells destroyed duriag bakiag (see Bakery processes and leavening agents). Cultured dairy products, such as yogurt, buttermilk, and sour cream, contain up to lO cells of lactic acid bacteria per gram (19) (see Milk and milkproducts). Other examples of fermented foods consumed siace early times iaclude fermented meats, fish, and soybean products. 

Leather (qv) has been employed for many uses since ancient time on account of the convertibiUty of an easily decomposed substance into one which resists putrefaction. Leather is stUl an important material with its unique stmcture it is so dense in texture that it resists wind and water while retaining breathabihty and flexibiUty, which makes the resulting goods comfortable. Early attempts to imitate leather included appHcation of oil, mbber, or soluble cotton onto paper or fabrics. However, very Htde progress had been made until the era of synthetic resins began in the twentieth century. 

Paper consists of sheet materials that are comprised of bonded small discrete fibers. The fibers usually are ceUulosic in nature and are held together by hydrogen bonds (see Cellulose). The fibers are formed into a sheet on a fine screen from a dilute water suspension. The word paper is derived from papyms, a sheet made in ancient times by pressing together very thin strips of an Egyptian reed Cjperuspapyrus) (1). 

Diamonds were first discovered in ancient times in India and Borneo and later in Brazil in 1670 in alluvial deposits where water had sorted minerals on the basis of density and toughness. This type of tumbling often concentrates the better quality crystals such as those found in the ocean off the west coast of Africa. Exploration can be done by stream panning or drilling in conjunction with a search for the heavy mineral assemblages that accompany diamond. Alluvial deposits account for about 40% of the diamond found in primary sources. 

Although vegetable oils and animals fats were commonly used in ancient times, most higher acids were not known until the beginning of the nineteenth century. Then the nature of the naturally occurring 18-carbon fatty acids was estabHshed, and hundreds of long-chain fatty acids have been isolated from natural sources and characterized. 

Salt has had a significant impact on the economies of some countries, and in some places it stUl does. Salt was the first chemical recognized and used in ancient times (69). It was first used in food for taste enhancement and as a preservative (see SoDlUMCOMPOUNDS). 

Tin Bronzes. Tin bronzes may be the most familiar of copper alloys with roots going back into ancient times. Whereas bronze is stiU used for statuary, these alloys are found in many modem appHcations, such as electrical connectors, bearings, beUows, and diaphragms. The wrought tin bronzes are also called phosphor bronzes because 0.03 to 0.35 wt % phosphoms is commonly added for deoxidation and improved melt fluidity. 

Alizarin. There is only one significant plant anthraquinone dye, alizariu [72-48-0] (Cl Natural Red 6, 8, 9,10, 11, and 12 Cl 75330). In ancient times, alizaria was the preferred red dye. Cloth dyed with it has been found in Egyptian tombs dating 6000 years ago. The dye is found in the madder plant, a member of the Rubiaceae family. In 1944 about 35 species of this plant were known (1), but the use of more sophisticated analytical methods led to the detection of many more species by 1984 the number had increased to 50 (2). Of these, tinctorum and R peregrina yield the greatest amount of dye,... 

The above are the opening words of Exodus, the second book of the Petateuch. Already in ancient times, names were important in association with events. As organic chemistry developed during the 20th century, researchers started associating synthetically useful reactions Vi/ith the names of discoverers or developers of these reactions. In many cases such names serve merely as a mnemonic, to remember a reaction more easily there are few chemistry undergraduates who do not know what the Friedel-Crafts reaction is. 

Bitumen was used in ancient times as an adhesive for sealing hydraulic structures and as mortar for masonry (5]. The Bible mentions that Noah used pitch for caulking the Ark. Not unlike the Tower of Babylon, the houses of one of the most ancient cities in the world, Mohenjo-Daro in the upper Indus valley, were constructed with bricks of clay and bitumen monar [61. 

Age Prehistoric and early days Ancient times Middle Ages Age of rationalism Modern Age ... 

The attraction of rubbed amber and some other effects of electricity were known in ancient times. We know from finding nails in an old wreck that the Romans knew about contact corrosion combined with electric current flow. A skin of lead as a protection against boring worms covered the wooden planks of the ship and was nailed down with copper nails. Galvanic coupIe.s formed between the lead and the copper nails and the less noble lead sheets around the nails corroded in the seawater and fell off. The shipbuilders discovered a simple solution and covered the heads of the copper nails with lead as well. Galvanic current flow between the two metals was eliminated and corrosion was prevented (26). 

One now wonders whether these two phenomena are to be observed also for the whole two-dimensional surface of a crystal non-locking of the crystal surface in spite of lattice periodicity, and divergence of the fluctuation-induced thickening of the interface (or crystal surface), and in consequence the absence of facets. The last seems to contradict experience crystals almost by definition have their charm simply due to the beautifully shining facets which has made them jewelry objects since ancient times. 

Many carboxylic acids were first isolated from natural sources and were given names based on their origin. Fonnic acid (Latin formica, meaning ant ) was obtained by distilling ants. Since ancient times acetic acid (Latin acetum, for vinegar ) has been known to be present in wine that has turned sour. Butyric acid (Latin butyrum, meaning butter ) contributes to the odor of both rancid butter and ginkgo benies, and lactic acid (Latin lac, for milk ) has been isolated from sour milk. 

Cardiac Glycosides Potent Drugs from Ancient Times... 

The alkali metals form a homogeneous group of extremely reactive elements which illustrate well the similarities and trends to be expected from the periodic classification, as discussed in Chapter 2. Their physical and chemical properties are readily interpreted in terms of their simple electronic configuration, ns, and for this reason they have been extensively studied by the full range of experimental and theoretical techniques. Compounds of sodium and potassium have been known from ancient times and both elements are essential for animal life. They are also major items of trade, commerce and chemical industry. Lithium was first recognized as a separate element at the beginning of the nineteenth eentury but did not assume major industrial importance until about 40 y ago. Rubidium and caesium are of considerable academic interest but so far have few industrial applications. Francium, the elusive element 87, has only fleeting existence in nature due to its very short radioactive half-life, and this delayed its discovery until 1939. 

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