LITTLE BLUE BOOK NO. 679 Edited by E. Haldeman-Julius Chemistry For Beginners Hereward Carrington, Ph.D. Author of the following Little Blue Books: No. 491, “Psychology for Beginners;” No. 419, “Life: Its Origin and Nature;” No. 524, “Death and Its Problems;” No. 493, “New Discoveries in Science;” Nos. 445–446, “Psychical Research” (2 vols.), etc., etc. HALDEMAN-JULIUS COMPANY GIRARD, KANSAS Copyright, 1924 Haldeman-Julius Company PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CHEMISTRY FOR BEGINNERS CONTENTS PART I Page Introductory 6 Alchemy 7 Modern Chemistry 8 Mediæval Chemistry 10 John Dalton 13 The Atomic Theory 14 The Elements 15 Atomic Weights 16 Valency 17 The Periodic Law 18 Earlier Discoveries 20 Analysis and Synthesis 21 Formulæ and Equations 22 Organic _vs._ Inorganic Chemistry 23 Organic Compounds 25 Catalysis 26 Enzymes 27 Hormones 27 Chemistry of the Earth 28 The Spectroscope 29 Astro-Physics and Chemistry 31 Spectrum Analysis 31 Industrial Chemistry 33 Instruments of Research 36 Salinity of the Oceans 37 The Newer Chemistry 38 Radio-Activity 39 Intra-Atomic Energy 39 The Electrical Theory of Matter 40 Within the Atom 42 Electrons 43 The Nature of Matter 44 PART II The Elements 46 Radio-Activity 49 The Origin of Life 51 Creation of Life 52 The Ether 53 Chemistry and Metaphysics 55 CHEMISTRY FOR BEGINNERS PART I