The Romance of Modern Chemistry

CHAPTER XXVI CHEMISTRY AND ELECTRICITY IF the reader has had the patience to accompany us thus far, he will have learned that chemistry, so far from being an isolated system of facts, is intimately related to many other departments of scientific activity. The chemist has something to tell us about agriculture, about the composition of the stars, about the relation of animals and plants to the atmosphere, about the physio- logy of nutrition, and other diverse matters. Especially when one considers the modern applications of science to industry and manufactures, does the all-pervading influence of chemistry become apparent, for in the most unexpected quarters chemical changes are utilised and made to con- tribute to the requirements and comforts of life. It is not surprising to find that the bearing of chemistry on other branches of science has led to the development of special study on the borderland of chemistry. Hence it comes that there is nowadays such specialisation as is in- dicated by the names “Agricultural Chemistry,” “Physical Chemistry,” and “ Biochemistry.” Another lateral branch of the science with a double-barrelled name is “ Electro- chemistry,” a subject which is of vast importance at the present time, not only from the point of view of the pure scientist, but also from that of the man who is mainly interested in applied science. The relation between chemistry and electricity is one 290