The Chemists' War : 1914-1918

The 1914-18 war has been referred to as the _chemists_ war_ and to commemorate the centenary, this collection of essays will examine various facets of the role of chemistry in the First World War. The industrial-scale slaughter of the war was underpinned by the industrial-scale production of a vast variety of chemicals, particularly chemical warfare agents, propellants and high explosives, and metals for the manufacture of shells and guns. However, chemicals not only killed, they also played a key role in the protection of troops and the care of the sick and wounded. Alloy steels for armour, dyes for camouflaging military and naval uniforms, disinfectants, antiseptics, pharmaceutical preparations, anaesthetics, and painkillers are all examples. Written by an experienced science writer and aimed at the general reader, this book will be of interest to scientists and historians with an interest in this technologically challenging time.