New Perspectives in Science Education
Textile dyeing in the 18th century as case study for understanding some chemistry core concepts
Teresa Celestino, CAFIS, Roma Tre University (Italy)
Abstract
In his handbook on dyeing and calico-printing, Sir William Crookes (1832-1919) mocked Jean Hellot (1685-1766) by illustrating his mechanical hypothesis on the dyeing process [1, p. 7] [2]. Rather than admire the intellectual audacity in formulating a theory undoubtedly incorrect but courageous for that time — given the involvement of atoms (whose existence was far from universally accepted) — Crookes uses a particularly biting sarcasm. Actually, the ideas of Hellot (author of a book on the technology of dyeing [3]) were very advanced for his time [4]. To support this point, it is useful to compare his view of matter with the conceptions of a spagyric chemist: Martino Poli (1662-1714), an opponent of corpuscular theories [5]. His ideas were steeped in alchemical concepts, still widespread at the time. It is possible to use these sources as case studies in chemistry teaching, by a historical approach aimed at understanding science concepts [6]. In general, textile dyeing offers numerous insights for teaching several chemistry core concepts, such as electronic transitions at the origin of color, functional groups, and intermolecular bonds [7].
Keywords: Chemical education, history of science, textile dyeing.
References
[1] Crookes W. A practical handbook of dyeing and calico-printing, Longmans, Green and Co., London: 1874.
[2] Celestino T. A Practical Handbook of Dyeing and Calico-Printing: il Secolo del Colore si Mostra al Mondo. Rend. Accad. Naz. Sci. detta dei XL. Mem. e Rend. Chim., Fis. Mat. e Sci. Nat. 2024, V, 81-87.
[3] Hellot J. Art de la Teinture des Laines et Étoffes de Laine au Grand et au Petit Teint avec une Instructions sur les Débouillis, La veuve Pissot, Paris: 1750.
[4] Wisniak J. Jean Hellot. A pioneer of chemical technology. Revista CENIC Ciencias Quimicas, 2009, 40(2), 111-121.
[5] Luzzini, F. Chimico, giammai meccanico. L’opera di Martino Poli tra medicina, filosofia naturale e pratica alchemica. Laboratorio dell’ISPF, 2023, XX(9). DOI: 10.12862/Lab23LZF.
[6] Gooday G., Lynch J.M., Wilson K.G., Barsky C.K. Does Science Education Need the History of Science? Isis, 99(2), 2008, 322-330. DOI: 10.1086/588690
[7] Janeiro Tudanca A.M., Hamer, M. Botanical Textile Printing: A Creative Approach to Teaching Chemistry in High School. Journal of Chemical Education. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c00089
