Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier (1743–94,) often called the father of modern chemistry, was a central figure in the 18th-century chemical revolution. He developed a rigorous, experimentally grounded theory of oxygen’s reactivity and helped establish the modern system for naming chemical substances.
Born into a wealthy Parisian family, Lavoisier studied law but soon committed himself fully to science. In 1768, he accepted the role of farmer-general of taxes to fund his research. His experiments laid the groundwork for the law of conservation of mass and modern chemical nomenclature. He correctly interpreted Joseph Priestley’s findings and identified oxygen’s role in combustion, respiration, and metal compounds. In 1787, he predicted the existence of silicon, aided the development of the metric system, and compiled an early list of chemical elements.
Among his major works, Elements of Chemistry (1789) introduced systematic naming conventions, while Elementary Treatise on Chemistry helped shape the discipline as we know it.
Though politically liberal, he opposed the radicalism of the French Revolution. Despite efforts in tax reform and improvements to hospitals and prisons, his role as a financier led to his execution during the Reign of Terror in 1794.
Vivian Grey chronicled his life in The Chemist Who Lost His Head (1982.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Antoine Lavoisier
Languages are true analytical methods. Algebra, the means of expression which is the simplest, most exact and best adapted to its object, is both a language and an analytical method. In short, the art of reasoning can be reduced to a well-constructed.
—Antoine Lavoisier
Topics: Language
It is almost possible to predict one or two days in advance, within a rather broad range of probability, what the weather is going to be; it is even thought that it will not be impossible to publish daily forecasts, which would be very useful to society.
—Antoine Lavoisier
Topics: Weather
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