A History of the Chemistry Laboratory
Peter J.T. Morris, The Matter Factory, A History of the Chemistry Laboratory, Reaktion Books, London, 2015, 352 pp, ISBN 978 1 78023 442 7.
From white coats to Bunsen burners, the laboratory is a controlled space of experimentation, research and invention. But how have the desired functions of the laboratory influenced the way it was constructed, laid out, equipped and operated? And how have developments in chemical practice or theory changed the laboratory and the way it is used? The Matter Factory offers a novel approach to the history of chemistry, showing how the development of the laboratory also helped to shape modern scientific practice. As consumers of leading-edge technology, chemists have driven innovation in laboratory design and the provision of utilities and equipment.
