Learning about chemistry was often a family endeavor in which parents and children worked together on “chemical recreation” experiments.
The above quote is from the tenth edition of a book first published in 1823, entitled Chemical Recreations: A Popular Manual of Experimental Chemistry by John Joseph Griffin. So infinitely varied are the objects of Chemistry that it is an everlasting source of occupation and amusement.” “Chemistry is the science which makes known to us the properties of the component particles of all natural bodies. Indeed, by the early 1800’s chemistry had become “recreational”: Michael Faraday is quoted as having said that the book gave him his foundation in chemistry.
The exhibit points out that the book was quickly adopted by American chemistry instructors and that “twenty-three American printings of the book appeared between 18, making it the most successful introductory chemistry textbook of this period in American history.” It was also printed in French and German. and her young students, Caroline and Emily. It attempted to convey the most current perspectives on chemistry through a dialogue between a fictional Mrs. This interest was fueled by a book entitled Conversations on Chemistry, written in 1806 by Jane Marcet in order to supplement the popular public lectures. Anyone interested in science could attend lectures and, if they had the funds, could purchase scientific equipment and set up laboratories in their homes.
It was very similar to Göttling’s, but had a different audience -ladies and gentlemen, not scientists.
Shortly thereafter, in 1797, James Woodhouse, an American chemist in Philadelphia, PA, published his own book of chemical experiments, The Young Chemist’s Pocket Companion, and it, too, came with a portable lab. The chest contained the equipment and instructions necessary to perform basic experiments and was geared towards chemists, physicians, mineralogists, etc. The first chemistry set was mentioned in the book, Description of a Portable Chest of Chemistry or Complete Collection of Chemical Tests, written by a German chemist, Johann Friedrich Göttling, in 1791. While the exhibit is not large (it is a special side exhibit off from the main permanent displays), it is interesting, educational, and fun-hopefully this review will encourage those who plan to be in Philadelphia this year to attend the American Chemical Society meeting (21-25 August) to stop by and take a look.
It follows the history of science toys through to this day, including how gender, race, and legislation shaped their evolution. It provides a fascinating look at how science began to emerge beyond the closed circles of university researchers in the early 1800’s, to be embraced by the general public-adults and children alike. But the exhibit is not just about the toys.