Chemistry and Chemists in Florence

Marco Fontani has been working at the Department of Organic Chemistry at the University of Florence since 2003. He is the author of over 120 publications in materials chemistry, organometallic chemistry, electrochemistry and the history of chemistry. He is a member of the National Society of History of Chemistry (Gruppo Nazionale di Storia e Fondamenti della Chimica). Mary Virginia Orna is Professor of Chemistry at the College of New Rochelle, NY. She has lectured and published widely in the areas of color chemistry and archaeological chemistry and, following a sabbatical leave at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, she has maintained a research relationship with art historians in the area of pigment content of medieval manuscripts. She has authored numerous journal articles, book chapters and encyclopedia articles, four books and edited nine others. She is active in several divisions of the American Chemical Society, having served as Chair, Program Chair and Treasurer of the Division of the History of Chemistry. She is the author of The Chemical History of Color (Springer: Heidelberg, 2013). Mariagrazia Costa has been associated with the Laboratory for Educational Research in Teaching Chemistry and Integrated Science, of the Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, since 1986. She is a member of the Gruppo Nazionale di Storia e Fondamenti della Chimica (National Group of History and Fundamentals of Chemistry) and authored or co-authored approximately 215 publications and 10 audiovisual works.

Historical Background.- Scientists and Naturalists from the Time of the Last of the Medici Family (1694) to the Period of the Museum of Physics and Natural History (1775-1807).- Chemists in the Period of the Lyceum of Physical and Natural Studies (1807-1859).- Chemists in the Period of the Institute of Higher Practical Studies and Specialization (1859-1924).- Chemists in the Period of the Royal University of Florence (1924-1946).- Chemists in the Period of the University of Florence (1946-2000).- Conclusion.