History of the Ideas in Chemistry

Recommended Prerequisites

Training in Physics or Chemistry at the 1st cycle of studies.

Teaching Methods

The History of Ideas in Chemistry will be presented through expositive methods and investigation activities using diversified resources. The research conducted by the student will be followed by the elaboration of written assignments and oral presentations. This student-centered strategy will foster interpersonal relationships, teamwork and communication skills in the history of science in an educational context.

Learning Outcomes

Following and in articulation with the curricular unit History of Ideas in Physics, this curricular unit aims to give an overview of the evolution of ideas in Chemistry in its fundamental aspects, its organization, as well as to promote critical reflections on the scientific development and its connection with the present. Students who successfully complete the course unit will:

Reinforce and review fundamental aspects related to the history of science and technology

Reinforce and review knowledge about epistemological and cultural factors that contribute to changes in the paradigm of science

Review the different means of dissemination of scientific ideas

Relate the scientific development of chemistry with social and technological aspects

Use diversified resources of History of Science in teaching/learning strategies

Relate the development of ideas in Chemistry with the evolution of teaching, using historical documents in an educational context.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

- Genesis of Chemistry in Antiquity

- Alchemy and its relations with the arts and medicine

- Medieval experimental attitudes and after the discoveries

- Flogisto theory

- First Chemical Revolution associated with Lavoisier

- Chemistry in Portugal in the 18th and 19th centuries

- Atomism and the emergence of ideas of structure

- Ideas in relation to chemical bonding and electronic structure

- Developments in Chemistry in the 20th century.

- Epistemological and cultural issues raised by Chemistry today

- Use of historical, epistemological and cultural aspects in the teaching of chemistry.

Head Lecturer(s)

Sérgio Paulo Jorge Rodrigues

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Resolution Problems: 30.0%
Synthesis work: 30.0%
Exam: 40.0%

Bibliography

David Knight, “Ideas in Chemistry”, The Athlone Press, 1995.

Philippe de La Cotardière (dir.), “História das ciências : da antiguidade aos nossos dias” (Volume II – Física e Química), Texto & Grafia, 2015.

Pierre Laszlo, “A palavra das Coisas ou a Linguagem da Química”, Gradiva, 1995.

Referências opticionais e mais avançadas / Optional and more advanced references

McCain, Kevin; Kampourakis, Kostas. What is Scientific Knowledge?: An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology of Science. Routledge, 2019

Bowler, P. J.; Morus, I. R. Making Modern Science: A Historical Survey. University of Chicago Press 2010.

Isabel Malaquias e João Oliveira (Coords.) “A evolução da química: impactos na sociedade”,UA Editora, 2021.

Jorge Calado, “Haja luz! : uma história da química através de tudo”, IST Press, 2015

Bernardette Bensaude-Vincent e Isabelle Stengers, “História da Química”, Instituto Piaget, 1992.

Henry M. Leicester, “The historical background of chemistry”, Wiley, 1956.

Aaron Ihde, “The Dev