The Matter Factory

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. For example, the introduction of coal gas into Bunsen's laboratory led to the development of the Bunsen burner, which in turn allowed the development of atomic spectroscopy. Is the construction of new laboratories - and the provision of new utilities and equipment - an important element in the development of these novel areas of chemistry?This book tackles these questi

Peter J. T. Morris is Keeper of Research Projects at the Science Museum, London, and an Honorary Research Associate of the Science and Technology Studies Department, UCL. He is editor of Science for the Nation: Perspectives on the History of the Science Museum (2010).