This collection of essays examines the question of theory from the perspective of the history
of chemistry. Through the lens of a number of different periods the authors provide a
historical analysis of the question of theory in the history of chemical practice. The
consensus picture that emerges is that the history of science tells us a much more complex
story about theory choice. A glimpse at scientific practice at the time shows that different
competing as well as non-competing theories were used in the context of the scientific
practice at the various times and sometimes played a pivotal pedagogical role in training the
next generation of chemists. This brief brings together a history of chemical practice and in
so doing reveals that theory choice is conceptually more problematic than was originally
conceived. This volume was produced as part of the Ad HOC chemistry research group hosted by
University College London and University of Cambridge.
