Skip to content

Please be aware that some material may contain words, descriptions or illustrations which will not reflect current scientific understanding and may be considered in today's context inaccurate, unethical, offensive or distressing.

The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'Note on nitro-glycerine' by A W [Alexander William] Williamson

Reference number: AP/37/32

Date: 1854

Description

Williamson briefly describes some characteristics of nitroglycerine; namely that it is formed 'by acting upon glycerine with a mixture, in equal volumes, of concentrated nitric and sulphuric acids, the glycerine being added by a few drops at a time', and that it is heavier than water, soluble in water and soluble in alcohol and ether. He explains that it is difficult to complete a full analysis of the substance due to its tendency to decompose in drying.

Subject: Analytical chemistry

Received and read 15 June 1854. Communicated by Dr [William] Sharpey.

This paper was published in full in volume 7 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'Note on nitro-glycerine'.

Reference number
AP/37/32
Earliest possible date
1854
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Alexander William Williamson

View page for Alexander William Williamson

Use this record

IIIF manifest

View​ IIIF ​ manifest Opens in new tab

Open in Mirador viewer Opens in new tab

Export this record

Download PDF Opens in new tab

Citation

Alexander William Williamson, Paper, 'Note on nitro-glycerine' by A W [Alexander William] Williamson, 1854, AP/37/32, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_37_32/paper-note-on-nitro-glycerine-by-a-w-alexander-william-williamson, accessed on 12 December 2024

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_37_32/paper-note-on-nitro-glycerine-by-a-w-alexander-william-williamson

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/ap_37_32/paper-note-on-nitro-glycerine-by-a-w-alexander-william-williamson" title="Paper, 'Note on nitro-glycerine' by A W [Alexander William] Williamson" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Related Publications

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Related Fellows

Explore the collection

  • Archived Papers

    Dates: 1768-1989

    The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

    View collection