Outlines of General Chemistry

London: Macmillan and Co, 1912. Third edition. Publisher’s cloth. An excellent copy from the library of George E. Hale with his signature on the fly-leaf and the blind-stamp of the Mount Wilson Observatory. Third edition. Ostwald’s textbooks was designed to “meet the requirements of the student who, while not intending to devote himself to the detailed study of General Chemistry, still wishes to follow intelligently the progress recently made in this important branch of science.” Translated by W.W. Taylor (1863-1935), lecturer in chemistry at Edinburgh.

In the course of a strenuous career, Wilhelm Ostwald (1853-1932), a pioneer of modern physical chemistry, published 45 books, over 500 articles, and about 5000 reviews. He also edited six scholarly journals, and organised the reprinting of a lengthy series of historic chemical papers. By his 50th birthday he had supervised 147 graduate students, 34 of whom became professors. He was honoured by over 60 universities and learned societies, and in 1909 won the Nobel prize for chemistry. Ostwald took an active interest in philosophical, social and political issues, and devoted much time and effort to the cause of world peace and international understanding.