Early Electrochemistry

Electrical phenomena known in antiquity were lightning (the ‘sulphurous smell’, i.e. ozone, in thunderstorms is mentioned by Homer), the attraction for light bodies shown by rubbed amber (Thaïes, c.600 B.C.; amber), and the torpedo fish (see Vol. I). No relation among these was suspected. Schweigger1 thought the legends of the Dioscuri, of Castor and Pollux, etc., indicated a knowledge of positive and negative electricity. William Gilbert (De Magnete 1600) found that glass, sulphur, and resin also become attractive by friction. Otto von Guericke (Exprimenta Nova ... De Vacuo Spatio, Amsterdam, 1672; see Vol. II, p. 514) discovered the electric light, attractions and repulsions, and the precursor of the electrical machine in a globe of sulphur rubbed whilst turning mechanically. Dr. Wall2 observed the electric spark, noticed also by Leibniz in 1672 with a sulphur globe given to him by von Guericke.3 F. Hauksbee invented the glass globe electrical machine.4 Stephen Gray5 observed the different conductivities for electricity shown by various bodies, and J. T. Desaguliers6 divided bodies into ‘electrics’ (insulators, electrified by friction) and ‘non–electrics’ (conductors, apparently not electrified)

Art · Biology · Electrical engineering · Electricity · Fish · Fishery · Globe · Meteorology · Physics · Polymer chemistry · Polymer science · Thunderstorm · Australian Indigenous Culture and History · Engineering · Materials Science · Various Chemistry Research Topics