General principles of chemistry

This chapter provides a brief insight into selected fundamental principles of matter as a background to the appreciation of the hazards of chemicals. 

Chemistry is the science of chemicals which studies the laws governing their formation, combination and behaviour under various conditions. Some of the key physical laws as they influence chemical safety are discussed in Chapter 4. 

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Wilhelm Homberg, in a 1702 memoir on the general principles of chemistry, describes the sulphur principle as always active in its nature. On the other hand, the earth never acts but serves only as a recepticle or matrix for the other principles. Here very clearly expressed is the verbal connection between the matrix as womb in the earth (as instrument), and EARTH as an element or principle. There is a continuous linguistic and conceptual connection between the matrix of Paracelsus and the base of Rouelle. As Louis Lemery, a son of Nicholas Lemery, put it in 1706 ... 

The writer has drawn at will on the several books mentioned above, some of the tables being taken nearly bodily from them, and has also derived much help from Findlay s Thase Rule (London, 1920) and from The General Principles of Chemistry by Noyes and Sherrill (Boston, 1917). He wishes especially to express his gratitude for the inspiration and helpful suggestions from Dr. W. K. Lewis of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and from his other friends and associates at the Institute and of the E. B. Badger Sons Company. Finally, he wishes to express his appreciation of the assistance of Miss Mildred B. McDonald, without which this book would never have been written. 

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