Valency and Structural Chemistry

Edward Frankland s suggestion, in 1852, that an element always appears to combine with the same number of atoms of any given kind started systematic investigations 

Several works give an overview the development of the concept of affinity.155-158 There is an autobiographical narrative by Robert Mulliken (1896-1986), who contributed so decisively to the development of molecular orbital theory.159 There are also studies on a number of more specific bonding-mechanisms160-162 and on the reaction of the chemical community to hydrogen bonding.163 

There is a systematic study of the origins of structural theory in organic chemistry, where the emphasis is on the period from about 1830 to 1861.164 The same author has examined Kekule s attempt to account for valency in terms of the internal structure of polyvalent atoms.165 Robinson s work on strychnine has also been studied.166 Examples from structural chemistry have been used for illuminating a number of epistemological issues.167,168 

Furthermore, we have studies on M. Berthelot s (1897-1907) contributions to the development of the notion of isomerism 169 the errors of Alfred Werner in his account of spontaneous resolution, mainly due to his neglect of the work of others 170 Adolphe Wurtz s insistence on atomism and its cultural milieu 171,172 and the early applications of infra-red spectroscopy to chemistry.173 

The early history of stereochemistry has been explored.174 An account of stereochemistry from the mid-19th century to 1960 surveys the proposals of van t Hoff and Le Bel as well as those of later workers in the field, such as Odd Hassel and D. H. R. Barton (1918-1998), and J. W. Comforth and V. Prelog (1906-1998).175 G. J. W. Bremer s experiments, which gave the initial experimental support to van t Hoff s stereochemical views, have been re-assessed through an analysis of the correspondence between the two chemists.176 There is a paper arguing that, in effect, van t Hoff and Le Bel produced two different theories177 and another one suggesting that John Dalton (1766-1844) was the first stereochemist.178 There is a brief analysis of the independent contributions of Alfred Werner and William Jackson Pope (1870-1939) to stereochemistry.179 

---