What do you associate with chemistry? Explosions, innovative materials, plastics, pollution? The public's confused and contradictory conception of chemistry as basic science, industrial producer and polluter contributes to what we present in this book as chemistry's image as an impure science. Historically, chemistry has always been viewed as impure both in terms of its academic status and its role in transforming modern society. While exploring the history of this science we argue for a characteristic philosophical approach that distinguishes chemistry from physics. This reflection leads us to a philosophical stance that we characterise as operational realism. In this new expanded edition we delve deeper into the questions of properties and potentials that are so important for this philosophy that is based on the manipulation of matter rather than the construction of theories.Sample Chapter(s)Chapter 1: Introduction: Chemistry and Its Discontents (61 KB)Contents: Introduction: Chemistry and Its DiscontentsChemistry and PollutionThe Damnation of the AlchemistThe Space of the LaboratoryProof in the LaboratoryChemistry Creates Its ObjectA Duel between Two Conceptions of MatterChemistry versus PhysicsAtoms or ElementsPositivism and ChemistryAtoms as FictionsAgency and RelationsTaming the NanoworldTowards a Responsible ChemistryReadership: Students, professionals, graduate of chemistry and philosophy.