A Century of Chemistry in Britain

Abstract

As part yof the centenary celebrations of the Chemical Society, an exhibition illustrating the achievements of British chemistry during the past century and the part which chemistry plays to-day in everyday life, organised by the Chemical Society and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, is to be held at the Science Museum, South Kensington, during July and August 1947. The Chemical Society is preparing the first part of the exhibition, which is to be historical in character, illustrating the great advances that have taken place during the hundred years of the Society's existence. How great are those advances will be noted when it is realized that, at the foundation of the Society, Dalton's atomic theory was but thirty years old; and the study of organic chemistry was in its infancy. Each branch of chemistry is under the care of a panel of experts who are now engaged in preparing an account of the progress in the past hundred years which this exhibition serves to illustrate. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is preparing a modern section dealing with the applications of chemistry to everyday life. Between the two parts of the exhibition there will be a linking section which will explain the processes by which the chemical engineer turns raw materials into the products which are familiar in the day-to-day life of every Citizen. This will lead on to sub-sections dealing with such themes as textiles, agriculture, homes and buildings, roads and transport, fuel and power, health and food. The Department is having the co-operation of the Agricultural Research Council, various research associations and other organisations in the preparation of these exhibits; and the Central Office of Information is to be responsible for the design and layout of this part of the exhibition.