Synopsis
The Physical Principles Of Chemistry.: To Which Is Added, A Short Appendix by Mathurin-Jacques Brisson is an 18th-century elementary chemistry text translated for English readers. Brisson presents a systematic account of chemical theory rooted in the then-emerging concepts of caloric (heat) and affinity, arguing that all natural bodies exist in three states—solid, liquid, and aeriform—depending on the amount of caloric present or combined with a body. The work surveys the formation of the atmosphere, the nature and classification of elastic fluids (permanent and non-permanent gases), and the properties and interactions of acids and bases, salts, and climates of mineral and vegetable matter. It includes methodical discussions of air, respiration, combustion, oxidation, fermentation, and the metallurgy of metals, with extensive tables and experimental apparatus descriptions. The translator emphasizes pedagogical aims, adapting the text to the needs of students and drawing on the works of Lavoisier, Guyton-Mautheau, Chaptal, Berthollet, Fourcroy, and Pauquelin. The volume also covers weights, measures, and apparatus to facilitate chemical study, providing a foundational reference for early modern chemistry.
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