Mrs. Cotter's Web Pages @ Pennridge High School
A Historical View of Science |
| Chemistry or for that matter, science, has had many significant
advances throughout history. To mention all the events that have
transpired would be impossible because of time and the fact that
not every event was recorded. Many improvements
to everyday life were made by nomads, farmers, philosophers, such
things
like the “bag”, “clothing”, and “organization” that
were an idea by an individual at that time who just thought that
life could be easier with it. As early as 300 BC Plato commented
that individual disciplines could not profit alone, and that combining
them increase productivity. Plato had realized that information learned
in one area could and should be applied to others. Later, Descartes
proposed a systematic approach to proving or disproving theories. “Accepting
nothing as true which was not so clear and distinct…that all
doubt was excluded.” Scientist today may think that this statement
is obvious but back in then, when instruments were not available
to solidify fact from fiction, it was a marvel idea. Chemistry itself
did not progress as rapidly as the other sciences because adequate
apparatuses, procedures and a unified language were not relevant
until the 1700’s. Joseph Priestly (1733-1804) and Antoine Lavoisier
(1743-1794) successfully isolated the pure elements of Oxygen and
Hydrogen in gaseous form which set off an explosion of scientists
studying this matter. The strength of our knowledge today is based
on that type of ingenuity on part of the scientists throughout history.
While learning about chemistry or environmental science this year,
keep in mind the history that brought us what we have today. Good-Luck this year, Mrs. Cotter |