The practical methods of organic chemistry

Book Details

Title	The Practical Methods of Organic Chemistry
Author(s)	Ludwig Gattermann
Translator	William Bush Schober
Publisher	Nabu Press
Year	2010
Edition	Reproduction of Original Edition
Language	English
Pages	372
ISBN	9781144664945
Genre / Domain	Science, Chemistry, History
Original Publication	1901
Size	4.4 MB
Extension	PDF

Summary

The Practical Methods of Organic Chemistry is a faithful reproduction of a classic laboratory manual originally published in 1901, reissued by Nabu Press in 2010 to preserve its historical and educational value. Authored by Ludwig Gattermann, a distinguished Professor at the University of Heidelberg, this work served as an essential guide for students engaged in organic chemistry laboratory work during the early twentieth century [citation:7][citation:20]. The book addresses a practical pedagogical challenge: how to provide adequate instruction to large numbers of students when the instructor cannot personally attend to each individual’s needs. Gattermann’s solution was to create a comprehensive text that students could follow independently, ensuring that even in the instructor’s absence, they could carry out standard operations correctly.

The book is structured into two principal sections that reflect its dual purpose. The General Part deals with fundamental laboratory techniques essential to all organic work: crystallization, distillation (including distillation with steam), drying, sublimation, separation of liquid mixtures, extraction, filtration, and melting-point determination [citation:6]. These operations are described in sufficient detail that a beginner can execute them without direct supervision, a deliberate choice that prioritizes independence over exhaustive coverage of every possible variation. The Special Part then presents specific preparations, organized by compound series: aliphatic, aromatic, and pyridine/quinoline [citation:13]. Each preparation includes general observations relating to the character and significance of the reaction being performed, so that students acquire theoretical knowledge concurrently with practical skills—a pedagogical approach Gattermann believed led to more durable understanding [citation:7].

Beyond its immediate instructional purpose, this book holds significant value for historians of science and anyone interested in the development of chemical education. The detailed procedures offer a window into the laboratory practices, equipment, and chemical knowledge of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The text covers an extensive range of reactions and syntheses, from basic operations like the preparation of acid chlorides and esters to more complex transformations such as the Perkins synthesis of cinnamic acid, the Kolbe synthesis of oxyacids, and the preparation of dyes of the malachite green series [citation:6]. The inclusion of an inorganic part and tables for calculations in nitrogen determination further demonstrates the comprehensive scope of laboratory training expected of chemistry students of that era. Nabu Press’s reproduction acknowledges the potential for imperfections such as missing or blurred pages and errant marks, which are inherent to the original artifact or introduced by scanning, but considers the work culturally important enough to warrant preservation [citation:12].

This book is intended for chemistry students, researchers, and historians of science. While the specific chemical procedures reflect the state of the discipline over a century ago and may not align with modern safety standards or current synthetic methodologies, the foundational principles and the meticulous approach to laboratory instruction remain instructive. Students can gain insight into the historical development of organic chemistry techniques, while researchers may find value in understanding the classical methods that underpin modern practice. Educators and historians will appreciate the book as a primary source documenting how chemistry was taught and practiced in one of Europe’s leading laboratories of the period.

Key Features

• The book is a faithful reproduction of a work originally published before 1923, preserving historical laboratory methods and pedagogical approaches for modern readers.
• It is divided into a General Part covering fundamental operations like crystallization, distillation, and analytical methods, and a Special Part with specific chemical preparations.
• Each preparation includes general observations on the character and significance of the reaction, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical laboratory work.
• The text covers a wide range of reactions organized by compound series, including aliphatic, aromatic, and pyridine/quinoline preparations.
• Detailed procedures for classic syntheses are provided, such as the Perkins synthesis of cinnamic acid and the Kolbe synthesis of oxyacids.
• The book includes an inorganic part and tables for calculations in nitrogen determination, reflecting the comprehensive training of early twentieth-century chemists.
• Authored by Ludwig Gattermann, a Professor at the University of Heidelberg with extensive experience teaching organic chemistry to large student groups.
• The pedagogical design enables students to carry out standard operations independently, addressing the practical challenge of instructing numerous students simultaneously.
• The reproduction acknowledges potential imperfections from the original artifact and scanning process, such as missing or blurred pages, while prioritizing cultural preservation.
• The text provides valuable insight for historians of science into laboratory practices, equipment, and chemical knowledge of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

About the Author

Ludwig Friedrich August Gattermann (1860–1920) was a German chemist born in Goslar and educated at the universities of Leipzig, Heidelberg, Berlin, and Göttingen, where he earned his doctorate in 1885 [citation:2][citation:9]. He began his academic career as an assistant at the Chemical Laboratory of the University of Göttingen under Victor Meyer, and in 1886 he completed his habilitation. In 1889 he was appointed extraordinary professor at the University of Heidelberg, and in 1900 he became full professor and Director of the Chemical Institute at the University of Freiburg [citation:9].

Gattermann’s research focused on organic chemistry, and he is particularly remembered for the Gattermann reaction and the Gattermann-Koch formylation, methods for synthesizing aromatic aldehydes that remain named after him. He was a member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and the German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina [citation:2]. His textbook, Die Praxis des organischen Chemikers (The Practice of Organic Chemistry), first published in 1896, became a standard laboratory manual and was translated into English by William Bush Schober, an instructor in organic chemistry at Lehigh University [citation:20]. Gattermann’s work had a lasting impact on the teaching of practical organic chemistry, and his laboratory manual continued to be used and revised by subsequent editors, including Nobel laureate Theodor Wieland.

Related Books

• Laboratory Manual of Organic Chemistry — Harry L. Fisher
• Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry — Brian S. Furniss, Antony J. Hannaford, Peter W. G. Smith, and Austin R. Tatchell
• The Systematic Identification of Organic Compounds — Ralph L. Shriner, Christine K. F. Hermann, Terence C. Morrill, David Y. Curtin, and Reynold C. Fuson
• Experimental Organic Chemistry: A Miniscale and Microscale Approach — John C. Gilbert and Stephen F. Martin
• Organic Chemistry Laboratory Manual — James W. Zubrick
• Introduction to Organic Laboratory Techniques: A Microscale Approach — Donald L. Pavia, Gary M. Lampman, George S. Kriz, and Randall G. Engel

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FAQ

Q : What is the original publication date of this book, and why was it reissued?

R : The original German edition of Gattermann’s laboratory manual was first published in 1896, and the English translation appeared in 1901. This specific reissue by Nabu Press in 2010 is part of a broader effort to preserve culturally important works that were published before 1923. By making the text available again, the publisher ensures that modern readers and researchers can access a faithful reproduction of the original, even though it may contain imperfections such as blurred pages or errant marks from the scanning process.

Q : Who translated this book into English?

R : The English translation was prepared by William Bush Schober (1864–?), an instructor in organic chemistry at Lehigh University. His translation was published by The Macmillan Company in New York and London. Schober’s work was praised in contemporary reviews for preserving the value of Gattermann’s original text while making it accessible to an English-speaking audience, with the American Chemical Journal noting that the book “loses none of its value” in translation.

Q : What topics are covered in the General Part of the book?

R : The General Part covers the fundamental operations essential to organic chemistry laboratory work. These include crystallization, various forms of distillation (including distillation with steam), sublimation, drying, separation of liquid mixtures by extraction and salting out, decolourisation and removal of tarry matter, filtration, heating under pressure, and melting-point determination. The descriptions are sufficiently detailed that beginners can carry out the operations independently, a deliberate pedagogical choice by the author.

Q : What types of chemical preparations are included in the Special Part?

R : The Special Part presents specific preparations organized into compound series: aliphatic, aromatic, and pyridine/quinoline. The aliphatic series includes preparations such as acid chlorides, anhydrides, amides, esters, primary amines, and hydrocarbon syntheses. The aromatic series covers nitration, reduction of nitro compounds, diazo reactions, sulphonation, and dye synthesis. The pyridine and quinoline series addresses heterocyclic compounds. Each preparation includes general observations on the reaction’s character and significance.

Q : How does Gattermann justify the pedagogical approach of this book?

R : In the preface, Gattermann explains that the book arose from the practical needs of teaching large numbers of students simultaneously. When an instructor cannot attend to each individual, students need a resource that allows them to carry out common operations without direct supervision. The General Part was designed for this purpose, describing operations so beginners can proceed independently. Additionally, by adding theoretical observations to each preparation, students acquire knowledge during laboratory work, which Gattermann believed adhered more firmly than knowledge obtained solely from theoretical texts.

Q : Is this book still relevant for modern chemistry students and researchers?

R : While the specific procedures reflect the state of organic chemistry over a century ago and may not align with modern safety standards or current methodologies, the book retains relevance for several reasons. It provides a window into the historical development of laboratory techniques and chemical education. The foundational principles and the meticulous approach to instruction remain instructive. Historians of science will find it a valuable primary source documenting practices at a leading European laboratory. Researchers may gain insight into classical methods underpinning modern practice.

Q : What imperfections might readers expect in this reproduction?

R : The publisher notes that this is an exact reproduction of a book published before 1923 and may contain occasional imperfections. These can include missing or blurred pages, poor images, and errant marks. Such issues may be inherent to the original work or introduced during the scanning process. The publisher has elected to bring the book back into print despite these imperfections as part of a commitment to preserving printed works worldwide, and appreciates readers’ understanding of the limitations inherent in reproducing historical texts.

Q : What is known about Ludwig Gattermann’s academic career and contributions?

R : Ludwig Gattermann (1860–1920) studied at Leipzig, Heidelberg, Berlin, and Göttingen, earning his doctorate in 1885. He served as an assistant at Göttingen under Victor Meyer, completed his habilitation in 1886, and became extraordinary professor at Heidelberg in 1889. In 1900 he was appointed full professor and Director of the Chemical Institute at Freiburg. He is remembered for the Gattermann reaction and Gattermann-Koch formylation. He was a member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and the Leopoldina. His laboratory manual became a standard text and was revised by later editors including Nobel laureate Theodor Wieland.