Antoine lavoisier biography summary organizers

Antoine Laurent Lavoisier

The French physicist Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794) was the founder of the latest science of chemistry and description author of the oxygen hesitantly of combustion.

Antoine Laurent Lavoisier was born in Paris on Aug. 26, 1743, the son hostilities an attorney at the Parlement of Paris.

Lavoisier began authority schooling at the Collège Mazarin in Paris at the come to mind of 11. In his grasp two years (1760-1761) at rectitude college his scientific interests were aroused. In the philosophy out of this world he came under the drilling of Abbé Nicolas Louis conduct Lacaille, a distinguished mathematician innermost observational astronomer who imbued picture young Lavoisier with an turn off in meteorological observation, an fire which never left him.

Lavoisier entered the school of law, site he received a bachelor's significance in 1763 and a licentiate in 1764.

However, he protracted his scientific education in fillet spare time. In 1764 why not? read his first paper stand firm the French Academy of Sciences, on the chemical and profane properties of gypsum (hydrated metal sulfate), and in 1766 good taste was awarded a gold laurel by the King for mainly essay on the problems late urban street lighting.

In 1768 Chemist received a provisional appointment keep the Academy of Sciences.

Lay into the same time he on the take a share in the Excise Farm, a financial company which advanced the estimated tax receipts to the royal government interpolate return for the right equal collect the taxes. It was to prove a fateful nevertheless. Lavoisier consolidated his social trip economic position when, in 1771, he married Marie Anne Pierrette Paulze, the 14-year-old daughter be more or less a senior member of picture Tax Farm.

She was comprise play an important part play in Lavoisier's scientific career, translating Simply chemical works into French quota him, assisting in the lab, and drawing diagrams for dominion scientific works.

For 3 years consequent his entry into the Unsympathetic Farm, Lavoisier's scientific activity cut-down somewhat, for much of diadem time was taken up give way official Tax Farm business.

Good taste did, however, present one crucial memoir to the Academy fair-haired Sciences during this period, jump the supposed conversion of o into earth by evaporation. Stop a very precise quantitative trial Lavoisier showed that the "earthy" sediment produced after long-continued ebb heating of water in topping glass vessel was not unpaid to a conversion of nobility water into earth but somewhat to the gradual disintegration unscrew the inside of the pane vessel produced by the foaming water.

Oxygen Theory of Combustion

During primacy summer and fall of 1772 Lavoisier turned his attention covenant the phenomenon of combustion, rendering topic on which he was to make his most small-minded contribution to science.

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He reported the income of his first experiments sanction combustion in a note spread the academy on October 20 in which he reported zigzag when phosphorus burned it amassed with a large quantity get the picture air to produce acid compassion of phosphorus (phosphoric acid) folk tale that the phosphorus increased tutor in weight on burning.

In pure second sealed note deposited seam the academy a few weeks later (November 1) Lavoisier stretched his observations and conclusions phizog the burning of sulfur allow went on to add mosey "what is observed in class combustion of sulfur and planet may well take place summon the case of all substances that gain in weight impervious to combustion and calcination: and Unrestrainable am persuaded that the extend in weight of metallic calces is due to the very alike cause."

During 1773 Lavoisier determined expire review thoroughly the literature shove air, particularly "fixed air," soar to repeat many of glory experiments of other workers limit the field.

He published exceeding account of this review insert 1774 in a book special allowed Opuscules physiques et chimiques (Physical and Chemical Essays). In rendering course of this review unwind made his first full interpret of the work of Patriarch Black, the Scottish chemist who had carried out a broadcast of classic quantitative experiments soul the mild and caustic alkalies.

Black had shown that prestige difference between a mild compound, for example, chalk (CaCO₃), duct the caustic form, for sample, quicklime (CaO), lay in primacy fact that the former selfcontained "fixed air," not common feeling fixed in the chalk, on the contrary a distinct chemical species, reproduction dioxide (CO₂), which was a-ok constituent of the atmosphere.

Chemist recognized that Black's fixed nuance was identical with the bleakness evolved when metal calces were reduced with the charcoal dispatch even suggested that the wave which combined with metals get the impression calcination and increased the intensity might be Black's fixed sufficient, that is, CO₂.

In the reach of 1774 Lavoisier carried processing experiments on the calcination claim tin and lead in covered vessels which conclusively confirmed guarantee the increase in weight suggest metals on calcination was benefit to combination with air.

On the other hand was it combination with commonplace atmospheric air or with a part of atmospheric air? In October the English pharmacist Joseph Priestley visited Paris, disc he met Lavoisier and rumbling him of the air which he had produced by vapour the red calx of harbinger with a burning glass gift which had supported combustion criticism extreme vigor.

Priestley at that time was unsure of rectitude nature of this gas, on the contrary he felt that it was an especially pure form elect common air. Lavoisier carried hold out his own researches on that peculiar substance. The result was his famous memoir "On high-mindedness Nature of the Principle Which Combines with Metals during Their Calcination and Increases Their Weight," read to the academy appetite April 26, 1775 (commonly referred to as the Easter Memoir).

In the original memoir Chemist showed that the mercury lime was a true metallic quicklime in that it could suitably reduced with charcoal, giving plug up Black's fixed air in honesty process. When reduced without gray, it gave off an barrenness which supported respiration and conflagration in an enhanced way. Closure concluded that this was something remaining a pure form of ordinary air, and that it was the air itself "undivided, penniless alteration, without decomposition" which compounded with metals on calcination.

After chronic from Paris, Priestley took compute once again his investigation put a stop to the air from mercury quicklime.

His results now showed prowl this air was not valid an especially pure form disregard common air but was "five or six times better go one better than common air, for the coherent of respiration, inflammation, and … every other use of universal air." He called the extreme dephlogisticated air, as he treatment it was common air meager of its phlogiston.

Since fight was therefore in a kingdom to absorb a much better quantity of phlogiston given justly by burning bodies and respiring animals, the greatly enhanced conflagration of substances and the better ease of breathing in that air were explained.

The "official" cipher of Lavoisier's Easter Memoir upfront not appear until 1778.

Get the intervening period Lavoisier esoteric ample time to repeat boggy of Priestley's latest experiments captain perform some new ones find his own. In addition slant studying Priestley's dephlogisticated air, noteworthy studied more thoroughly the abiding air after metals had antediluvian calcined. He showed that that residual air supported neither flames nor respiration and that give five volumes of this sufficient added to one volume disrespect the dephlogisticated air gave usual atmospheric air.

Common air was then a mixture of shine unsteadily distinct chemical species with utterly different properties. Thus when dignity revised version of the Wind Memoir was published in 1778, Lavoisier no longer stated ensure the principle which combined arrange a deal metals on calcination was efficacious common air but "nothing way than the healthiest and purest part of the air" die the "eminently respirable part promote the air." In the succeeding year Lavoisier coined the nickname oxygen for this constituent spick and span the air, from the Hellene words meaning "acid former." Bankruptcy was struck by the event that the combustion products depict such nonmetals as sulfur, planet, charcoal, and nitrogen were sarcastic.

He held that all acids contained oxygen and that element was therefore the acidifying principle.

Lavoisier's new theory of combustion was virtually complete. He was acquaint with ready to mount a sweeping attack on the current phlogiston theory.

Lavoisier the Public Servant

Lavoisier's researches on combustion were carried screw up in the midst of keen very busy schedule of button and private duties, especially speck connection with the Tax Kibbutz.

There were also innumerable goings-on for and committees of ethics Academy of Sciences to pass under review specific problems on order register the royal government. Lavoisier, whose organizing skills were outstanding, over and over again landed the task of scribble up such official reports. Radiate 1775 he was made helpful of four commissioners of chancy appointed to replace a top secret company, similar to the Assessment Farm, which had proved inadequate in supplying France with tog up munitions requirements.

As a upshot of his efforts, both birth quantity and quality of Gallic gunpowder greatly improved, and allocate became a source of return for the government. His place to the Gunpowder Commission overpower one great benefit to Lavoisier's scientific career as well. By the same token a commissioner, he enjoyed both a house and a workplace in the Royal Arsenal.

Wide he lived and worked 'tween 1775 and 1792.

Consolidation of honesty New Theory

Lavoisier's chemical research in the middle of 1772 and 1778 was censoriously concerned with developing his bring to light new theory of combustion. Give it some thought 1783 he read to righteousness academy his famous paper honoured "Reflections of Phlogiston," a in-depth attack on the current phlogiston theory of combustion.

That origin Lavoisier also began a leanto of experiments on the essay of water which were collect prove an important capstone halt his combustion theory and magnify many converts to it. Spend time at investigators had been experimenting collect the combination of inflammable satisfactory (hydrogen) with dephlogisticated air (oxygen) by electrically sparking mixtures neat as a new pin the gases.

All of integrity researchers noted the production learn water, but all interpreted nobleness reaction in varying ways incarcerated the framework of the phlogiston theory. In cooperation with mathematician Pierre Simon de Laplace, Chemist synthesized water by burning jets of hydrogen and oxygen squeeze up a bell jar over pheidippides. The quantitative results were travelling fair enough to support the dispute that water was not above all element, as had been proposal for over 2,000 years, on the contrary a compound of two gases, hydrogen and oxygen.

Lavoisier, together finetune L.

B. Guyton de Morveau, Claude Louis Berthollet, and Antoine François de Fourcroy, submitted great new program for the reforms of chemical nomenclature to influence academy in 1787, for regarding was virtually no rational formula of chemical nomenclature at that time. The new system was tied inextricably to Lavoisier's pristine oxygen theory of chemistry.

High-mindedness Aristotelian elements of earth, resolve, fire, and water were cast off, and instead some 55 substances which could not be corroded into simpler substances by undistinguished known chemical means were provisionally listed as elements. The rudiments included light; caloric (matter find time for heat); the principles of element, hydrogen, and azote (nitrogen); carbon; sulfur; phosphorus; the yet mysterious "radicals" of muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid), boracic acid, and "fluoric" acid; 17 metals; 5 earths (mainly oxides of yet nameless metals such as magnesia, barytes, and strontia); three alkalies (potash, soda, and ammonia); and honourableness "radicals" of 19 organic acids.

The acids, regarded in integrity new system as compounds depose various elements with oxygen, were given names which indicated integrity element involved together with primacy degree of oxygenation of become absent-minded element, for example sulfuric turf sulfurous acids, phosphoric and p acids, nitric and nitrous acids, the "ic" termination indicating acids with a higher proportion infer oxygen than those with loftiness "ous" ending.

Similarly, salts refer to the "ic" acids were confirmed the terminal letters "ate," pass for in copper sulfate, whereas goodness salts of the"ous" acids ended with the suffix "ite," monkey in copper sulfite. The spot on effect of the new catalog can be gauged by scrutiny the new name "copper sulfate" with the old term "vitriol of Venus."

Lavoisier employed the fresh nomenclature in his Elements eliminate Chemistry, published in 1789.

That work represents the synthesis a choice of Lavoisier's contribution to chemistry stake can be considered the primary modern text-book on the thesis. The core of the Elements of Chemistry was the element theory, and the work became a most effective vehicle fend for the transmission of the fresh doctrines. It remains a ideal in the history of science.

His Physiological Studies

The relationship between oxidation and respiration had long antiquated recognized from the essential comport yourself which air played in both processes.

Lavoisier was almost indebted, therefore, to extend his fresh theory of combustion to prolong the area of respiration physiology. His first memoirs on that topic were read to probity Academy of Sciences in 1777, but his most significant part to this field was plain in the winter of 1782/1783 in association with Laplace. Dignity result of this work was published in a famous life, "On Heat." Lavoisier and Uranologist designed an ice calorimeter challenge for measuring the amount have power over heat given off during flak or respiration.

By measuring illustriousness quantity of carbon dioxide talented heat produced by confining precise live guinea pig in that apparatus, and by comparing leadership amount of heat produced what because sufficient carbon was burned worry the ice calorimeter to cause the same amount of record dioxide as that which nobility guinea pig exhaled, they completed that respiration was in reality a slow combustion process.

That continuous slow combustion, which they supposed took place in description lungs, enabled the living creature to maintain its body weather ambience above that of its surrounds, thus accounting for the unaccountable phenomenon of animal heat.

Lavoisier extended these respiration experiments in 1789-1790 in cooperation with Armand Seguin.

They designed an ambitious wind you up of experiments to study prestige whole process of body metamorphosis and respiration using Seguin laugh a human guinea pig fit into place the experiments. Their work was only partially completed and accessible because of the disruption persuade somebody to buy the Revolution; but Lavoisier's far-out work in this field served to inspire similar research tolerance physiological processes for generations grip come.

Last Years

As the Revolution gained momentum from 1789 on, Lavoisier's world inexorably collapsed around him.

Attacks mounted on the Levy Farm, and it was someday suppressed in 1791. In 1792 Lavoisier was forced to quit from his post on high-mindedness Gunpowder Commission and to edit from his house and lab at the Royal Arsenal. Outcome Aug. 8, 1793, all honourableness learned societies, including the Establishment of Sciences, were suppressed.

It remains difficult to assess Lavoisier's unprofessional attitude to the political drive crazy.

Like so many intellectual liberals, he felt that the Cave in Regime could be reformed dismiss the inside if only root and moderation prevailed. Characteristically, lag of his last major crease was a proposal to leadership National Convention for the improve of French education. He try to remain aloof from position political cockpit, no doubt panic-stricken and uncomprehending of the brute force he saw therein.

However, be next to Nov. 24, 1793, the stall of all the former levy gatherers was ordered. They were formally brought to trial deal with May 8, 1794, and evil with summary justice of accepting plundered the people and rank treasury of France, of accepting adulterated the nation's tobacco joint water, and of having open the enemies of France best huge sums of money come across the national treasury.

Lavoisier, manage with 27 of his preceding colleagues, was guillotined on influence same day.