The Iron(III) Thiocyanate Reaction

This Brief presents an historical investigation into the reaction between ferric ions and thiocyanate ions, which has been viewed in different ways throughout the last two centuries. Historically, the reaction was used in chemical analysis and to highlight the nature of chemical reactions, the laws of chemistry, models and theories of chemistry, chemical nomenclature, mathematics and data analysis, and instrumentation, which are important ingredients of what one might call the nature of chemistry. Using the history of the iron(III) thiocyanate reaction as a basis, the book's main objective is to explore how chemistry develops its own knowledge base; how it assesses the reliability of that base; and how some important tools of the trade have been brought to bear on a chemical reaction to achieve understanding, a worthwhile goal of any historical investigation.

Kevin C. de Berg completed his PhD in physical chemistry in 1978 at the University of Queensland and his MAppSc in 1989 from Curtin University. His research thesis for the MAppSc degree examined the historical significance of the gas laws particularly for the education context. Interests in chemistry and history and philosophy of science led to an invitation to serve on the editorial committee of the journal: Science & Education-Contributions from History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science and Mathematics; and to contributing a chapter titled: The Place of the History of Chemistry in the Teaching and Learning of Chemistry. Kevin has spent 9 years as a high school science and mathematics teacher and 36 years lecturing and researching in the area of physical and inorganic chemistry and history and philosophy of science. He is currently a Conjoint Associate Professor at Avondale College of Higher Education.