%0 Journal Article
%T Georg Helm's Chemical Energetics
%A Robert J. Deltete
%J Hyle : International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry
%D 2012
%I HYLE Publications, Karlsruhe and University of Karlsruhe
%X This essay has three interrelated goals: first, to sketch the basic contours of Georg Helm's energetic theory; second, to describe his attempt in his Grundz¨ąge der mathematischen Chemie. Energetik der chemischen Erscheinungen (1894) to apply that theory to the (then) burgeoning new field of physical chemistry. This is of some interest historically, since Helm's work is the most sophisticated attempt to develop the whole of physical chemistry mathematically from an energetic point of view. Nevertheless, it is seriously flawed technically. Moreover, that development is inconsistent with Helm's considered way of thinking about energy and energetic change. So a third goal of the essay is to explain his mature conception of the goal of energetics. I begin with a brief introduction to Helm and energetics, and end with some general conclusions about the success of Helm's mathematische Chemie.
%K philosophy of chemistry
%K energetics
%K Georg Helm
%K mathematics in chemistry
%K Wilhelm Ostwald
%K physical chemistry
%U http://www.hyle.org/journal/issues/18-1/deltete.pdf