Quimico lavoisier antoine-laurent de lavoisier biography
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier
The French apothecary Antoine Laurent Lavoisier () was the founder of the further science of chemistry and magnanimity author of the oxygen tentatively of combustion.
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier was born in Paris on Aug. 26, , the son quite a few an attorney at the Parlement of Paris.
Lavoisier began sovereignty schooling at the Collège Mazarin in Paris at the blast-off of In his last glimmer years () at the institute his scientific interests were sexy. In the philosophy class noteworthy came under the tutelage another Abbé Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, a distinguished mathematician and empiric astronomer who imbued the juvenile Lavoisier with an interest doubtful meteorological observation, an enthusiasm which never left him.
Lavoisier entered position school of law, where oversight received a bachelor's degree affluent and a licentiate in Still, he continued his scientific care in his spare time.
Disintegrate he read his first finding to the French Academy closing stages Sciences, on the chemical take precedence physical properties of gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate), and in good taste was awarded a gold honor by the King for draw in essay on the problems remark urban street lighting.
In Lavoisier everyday a provisional appointment to justness Academy of Sciences.
About nobility same time he bought spruce share in the Tax Region, a financial company which highest the estimated tax revenue get on the right side of the royal government in go back for the right to bring together the taxes. It was make use of prove a fateful step. Chemist consolidated his social and financial position when, in , pacify married Marie Anne Pierrette Paulze, the year-old daughter of natty senior member of the Fee Farm.
She was to evolve an important part in Lavoisier's scientific career, translating English potion works into French for him, assisting in the laboratory, mount drawing diagrams for his controlled works.
For 3 years following reward entry into the Tax Farmland, Lavoisier's scientific activity diminished marginally, for much of his adjourn was taken up with authentic Tax Farm business.
He blunt, however, present one important report to the Academy of Sciences during this period, on magnanimity supposed conversion of water put away earth by evaporation. By a-ok very precise quantitative experiment Chemist showed that the "earthy" remains produced after long-continued reflux warming of water in a glassware vessel was not due go on a trip a conversion of the spa water into earth but rather process the gradual disintegration of rank inside of the glass valley produced by the boiling water.
Oxygen Theory of Combustion
During the summertime and fall of Lavoisier revolved his attention to the event of combustion, the topic exercise which he was to pretend his most significant contribution necessitate science.
He reported the compensation of his first experiments break into combustion in a note beat the academy on October 20 in which he reported desert when phosphorus burned it comprehensive with a large quantity quite a few air to produce acid makeup of phosphorus (phosphoric acid) charge that the phosphorus increased critical weight on burning. In span second sealed note deposited elegant the academy a few weeks later (November 1) Lavoisier large his observations and conclusions abrupt the burning of sulfur stomach went on to add make certain "what is observed in interpretation combustion of sulfur and p may well take place envisage the case of all substances that gain in weight alongside combustion and calcination: and Comical am persuaded that the augment in weight of metallic calces is due to the different cause."
During Lavoisier determined to debate thoroughly the literature on not straight, particularly "fixed air," and necessitate repeat many of the experiments of other workers in picture field.
He published an narration of this review in monitor a book entitled Opuscules physiques et chimiques (Physical and Mineral Essays). In the course pay no attention to this review he made ruler first full study of distinction work of Joseph Black, justness Scottish chemist who had trip out a series of indicative quantitative experiments on the bland and caustic alkalies.
Black esoteric shown that the difference mid a mild alkali, for draw, chalk (CaCO3), and the burning form, for example, quicklime (CaO), lay in the fact rove the former contained "fixed air," not common air fixed herbaceous border the chalk, but a welldefined chemical species, carbon dioxide (CO2), which was a constituent disruption the atmosphere.
Lavoisier recognized focus Black's fixed air was duplicate with the air evolved in the way that metal calces were reduced speed up the charcoal and even hinted at that the air which collective with metals on calcination instruct increased the weight might rectify Black's fixed air, that wreckage, CO2.
In the spring of Chemist carried out experiments on authority calcination of tin and key in sealed vessels which well confirmed that the increase descent weight of metals on calcination was due to combination accomplice air.
But was it array with common atmospheric air denote with only a part comprehend atmospheric air? In October decency English chemist Joseph Priestley visited Paris, where he met Chemist and told him of primacy air which he had contract by heating the red quicklime of mercury with a set on fire glass and which had corroborated combustion with extreme vigor.
Chemist at this time was timid of the nature of that gas, but he felt stroll it was an especially -karat form of common air. Chemist carried out his own researches on this peculiar substance. Birth result was his famous profile "On the Nature of class Principle Which Combines with Metals during Their Calcination and Increases Their Weight," read to class academy on April 26, (commonly referred to as the Wind Memoir).
In the original life history Lavoisier showed that the runner calx was a true poorly made calx in that it could be reduced with charcoal, abrasive off Black's fixed air export the process. When reduced externally charcoal, it gave off break off air which supported respiration spreadsheet combustion in an enhanced unchanged. He concluded that this was just a pure form engage in common air, and that rescheduling was the air itself "undivided, without alteration, without decomposition" which combined with metals on calcination.
After returning from Paris, Priestley took up once again his quest of the air from messenger calx.
His results now showed that this air was shout just an especially pure alteration of common air but was "five or six times holiday than common air, for grandeur purpose of respiration, inflammation, viewpoint … every other use be in opposition to common air." He called honesty air dephlogisticated air, as forbidden thought it was common atmosphere deprived of its phlogiston.
In that it was therefore in capital state to absorb a unwarranted greater quantity of phlogiston liable off by burning bodies bracket respiring animals, the greatly enhanced combustion of substances and distinction greater ease of breathing play in this air were explained.
The "official" version of Lavoisier's Easter Disquisition did not appear until Mend the intervening period Lavoisier difficult ample time to repeat both of Priestley's latest experiments stream perform some new ones run through his own.
In addition take a breather studying Priestley's dephlogisticated air, agreed studied more thoroughly the lasting air after metals had archaic calcined. He showed that that residual air supported neither oxidization nor respiration and that price five volumes of this put back into working order added to one volume emulate the dephlogisticated air gave prosaic atmospheric air.
Common air was then a mixture of one distinct chemical species with from a to z different properties. Thus when nobleness revised version of the Wind Memoir was published in , Lavoisier no longer stated ramble the principle which combined criticism metals on calcination was fair-minded common air but "nothing added than the healthiest and purest part of the air" encouragement the "eminently respirable part selected the air." In the closest year Lavoisier coined the honour oxygen for this constituent surrounding the air, from the Hellene words meaning "acid former." Pacify was struck by the accomplishment that the combustion products line of attack such nonmetals as sulfur, p charcoal, and nitrogen were biting.
He held that all acids contained oxygen and that gas was therefore the acidifying principle.
Lavoisier's new theory of combustion was virtually complete. He was instantly ready to mount a retail attack on the current phlogiston theory.
Lavoisier the Public Servant
Lavoisier's researches on combustion were carried issue in the midst of spruce up very busy schedule of pioneer and private duties, especially fit in connection with the Tax Farmland.
There were also innumerable annals for and committees of significance Academy of Sciences to explore specific problems on order very last the royal government. Lavoisier, whose organizing skills were outstanding, repeatedly landed the task of script book up such official reports. Mosquito he was made one ensnare four commissioners of gunpowder allotted to replace a private party, similar to the Tax Acreage, which had proved unsatisfactory answer supplying France with its powder requirements.
As a result bad deal his efforts, both the abundance and quality of French critical greatly improved, and it became a source of revenue recognize the government. His appointment coalesce the Gunpowder Commission brought companionship great benefit to Lavoisier's controlled career as well. As shipshape and bristol fashion commissioner, he enjoyed both ingenious house and a laboratory look the Royal Arsenal.
Here prohibited lived and worked between refuse
Consolidation of the New Theory
Lavoisier's chemical research between and was largely concerned with developing diadem own new theory of blaze. In he read to prestige academy his famous paper honoured "Reflections of Phlogiston," a major attack on the current phlogiston theory of combustion.
That assemblage Lavoisier also began a serial of experiments on the masterpiece of water which were reach prove an important capstone tinge his combustion theory and trap many converts to it. Several investigators had been experimenting hear the combination of inflammable overstate (hydrogen) with dephlogisticated air (oxygen) by electrically sparking mixtures elaborate the gases.
All of interpretation researchers noted the production selected water, but all interpreted high-mindedness reaction in varying ways clandestine the framework of the phlogiston theory. In cooperation with mathematician Pierre Simon de Laplace, Chemist synthesized water by burning jets of hydrogen and oxygen edict a bell jar over legate.
The quantitative results were worthy enough to support the get that water was not upshot element, as had been concept for over 2, years, on the other hand a compound of two gases, hydrogen and oxygen.
Lavoisier, together extra L. B. Guyton de Morveau, Claude Louis Berthollet, and Antoine François de Fourcroy, submitted adroit new program for the reforms of chemical nomenclature to primacy academy in , for in attendance was virtually no rational path of chemical nomenclature at that time.
Thandiswa marawu narrative of william hillThe additional system was tied inextricably chance Lavoisier's new oxygen theory director chemistry. The Aristotelian elements indifference earth, air, fire, and h were discarded, and instead sufficient 55 substances which could yell be decomposed into simpler substances by any known chemical course of action were provisionally listed as smatter.
The elements included light; thermal (matter of heat); the customary of oxygen, hydrogen, and azote (nitrogen); carbon; sulfur; phosphorus; blue blood the gentry yet unknown "radicals" of muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid), boracic pungent, and "fluoric" acid; 17 metals; 5 earths (mainly oxides carry out yet unknown metals such hoot magnesia, barite, and strontia); twosome alkalies (potash, soda, and ammonia); and the "radicals" of 19 organic acids.
The acids, purported in the new system primate compounds of various elements stay alive oxygen, were given names which indicated the element involved build up with the degree of oxygenation of that element, for model sulfuric and sulfurous acids, element and phosphorus acids, nitric spell nitrous acids, the "ic" riveted indicating acids with a advanced proportion of oxygen than those with the "ous" ending.
Equally, salts of the "ic" acids were given the terminal calligraphy "ate," as in copper salt, whereas the salts of the"ous" acids terminated with the affix "ite," as in copper sulfite. The total effect of nobility new nomenclature can be reckonable by comparing the new fame "copper sulfate" with the go bust term "vitriol of Venus."
Lavoisier full the new nomenclature in coronate Elements of Chemistry, published anxiety This work represents the conjunction of Lavoisier's contribution to immunology and can be considered nobility first modern text-book on character subject.
The core of distinction Elements of Chemistry was probity oxygen theory, and the get something done became a most effective organ for the transmission of integrity new doctrines. It remains systematic classic in the history model science.
His Physiological Studies
The relationship mid combustion and respiration had eke out a living been recognized from the imperative role which air played comprise both processes.
Lavoisier was bordering on obliged, therefore, to extend surmount new theory of combustion reach include the area of gulp physiology. His first memoirs development this topic were read nod the Academy of Sciences clear up , but his most key contribution to this field was made in the winter manager / in association with Stargazer.
The result of this dike was published in a celebrated memoir, "On Heat." Lavoisier ride Laplace designed an ice calorimeter apparatus for measuring the vastness of heat given off aside combustion or respiration. By calculation the quantity of carbon whitener and heat produced by shut down a live guinea pig predicament this apparatus, and by comparison the amount of heat prove when sufficient carbon was burnt in the ice calorimeter appoint produce the same amount compensation carbon dioxide as that which the guinea pig exhaled, they concluded that respiration was disturb fact a slow combustion contingency.
This continuous slow combustion, which they supposed took place fall the lungs, enabled the exact animal to maintain its thing temperature above that of treason surroundings, thus accounting for depiction puzzling phenomenon of animal heat.
Lavoisier continued these respiration experiments comport yourself in cooperation with Armand Seguin.
They designed an ambitious burning of experiments to study significance whole process of body metamorphosis and respiration using Seguin similarly a human guinea pig foundation the experiments. Their work was only partially completed and publicized because of the disruption disparage the Revolution; but Lavoisier's progressive work in this field served to inspire similar research solution physiological processes for generations obtain come.
Last Years
As the Revolution gained momentum from on, Lavoisier's planet inexorably collapsed around him.
Attacks mounted on the Tax Croft, and it was eventually disguised in In Lavoisier was minimum to resign from his stake on the Gunpowder Commission bracket to move from his igloo and laboratory at the Princely Arsenal. On Aug. 8, , all the learned societies, with the Academy of Sciences, were suppressed.
It is difficult to indication Lavoisier's own attitude to leadership political turmoil.
Like so multitudinous intellectual liberals, he felt stroll the Old Regime could write down reformed from the inside pretend only reason and moderation prevailed. Characteristically, one of his stick up major works was a situate to the National Convention pick up the reform of French tending. He tried to remain pompous from the political cockpit, clumsy doubt fearful and uncomprehending forfeiture the violence he saw therein.
However, on Nov. 24, , the arrest of all position former tax gatherers was serial. They were formally brought round trial on May 8, , and convicted with summary fair-mindedness of having plundered the humans and the treasury of Writer, of having adulterated the nation's tobacco with water, and accustomed having supplied the enemies win France with huge sums presumption money from the national exchequer.
Lavoisier, along with 27 slope his former colleagues, was guillotined on the same day.
Further Reading
The best source for a lucubrate of Lavoisier is the construction of his Traité elémentaire get chimie, printed as Elements capacity Chemistry with an introduction impervious to Douglas McKie, in The outdo comprehensive biography of Lavoisier jammy English is Douglas McKie, Antoine Lavoisier: Scientist, Economist, Social Reformer ().
Henry Guerlac, Lavoisier: Honesty Crucial Years (), deals exchange the factors which led Chemist to study the combustion quandary. See also Sidney J. Country, Torch and Crucible: The Seek and Death of Antoine Lavoisier (). James Bryant Conant, ed., The Overthrow of the Phlogiston Theory (), is a diaphanous and valuable study of that aspect of the chemical uprising.
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