 Preface of the Romance of Modern Chemistry The Romance of Modern Chemistry by James C. Phillip Preface. Probably most people, when they think of chemistry, suppose that its fascination and its practical bearings can be appreciated only by those who have access to some sequestered laboratory, the doors of which are closed to the uninitiated. This is a mistaken view, for in countless wonderful ways, unknown to the general reader, chemical science is supplying the ordinary needs and contributing to the conveniences of modern life. In the present volume, an attempt has been made to deal with this aspect of the subject, and the points of view adopted are different from those of the ordinary textbook. The author ventures to think that those readers who have no technical knowledge may be convinced that radium and other things which figure so largely in the newspapers are by no means the only scientific matters of thrilling interest, and perhaps even readers who are already familiar with the elements of the science may be helped to see afresh the many unsuspected and marvelous ways in which chemical forces are at work beneath our very eyes. The chapters are so arranged that the reader who takes them in order will understand what is brought before him much more easily than if he were to pick out subjects here and there. Only by such consecutive reading is it possible for him to secure the maximum of interest and instruction. End of preface. Chapter 1 of The Romance of Modern Chemistry This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Romance of Modern Chemistry by James C. Phillip Chapter 1. The Dawn of Chemistry In this twentieth century chemistry has become a veritable storehouse of wonder, a cavern of marvel and mystery. Many generations of scientific workers have done their share in the exploration of the cavern and in the discovery of keys to its innumerable chambers, but much that is obscure or unknown remains. Today there are more explorers than at any previous time, more eager spirits than ever seeking to gain an entrance into those chambers which have not yet yielded up their secrets. Ever and anon some worker, more ingenious or more fortunate than his fellows, makes a notable advance, and his name is on everyone's lips. But all the time, unthought of by the outside world, the rank and file of the explorers is steadily pushing forward and conquering nature's mysteries for the ultimate service of man. In this volume we shall take a peep into some of the chambers which the workers of the past have opened up to us, as well as into some of those which are still partly unexplored. We shall see how the subtle chemical forces which are at work all around us.