Antoine Lavoisier was born in was born in Paris on August 26, 1743. He was one of the greatest scientists in chemistry. He also learned more sciences and have wonderful works in each of them, even his major is still in chemistry. He was the pioneer in stoichiometry and the one who enlightening people from a mistake called phlogiston. Unfortunately, he was convicted as guilty by Revolutionist and was guillotined. We will not know about oxygen if Lavoisier never research about combustion. We maybe will still following phlogiston theory to explain why the mass of the burned wood is different with its mass before burned. To celebrating this year as "The Year of Chemistry", let's see more about his greatest contributions in chemistry world.
- Experiments in Gases, Water, and Combustion.
Lavoisier interested in combustion phenomena. He proved to the world that the theory of phlogiston is wrong. He considered the mass of substance before combustion is same as the mass of the substance after combustion, which is supporting the Law of Conservation of Mass. He gave name to hydrogen, oxygen and also azote (means "no life", later known as nitrogen) according to their properties.
Before his research, people believe in each combustible resource, e. g. wood, there is a substance called phlogiston that is not has color, odor, or mass. It released when the substance combusted. When it happens, some weight loss from the substance. But Lavoisier proved that the weight isn't loss at all. The wood transform when combustion occurs into other forms, some transform into ash and some become gas. The gas cannot be seen, but it still has weight. And the weight of the gas is same with the weight that loss from wood. This is an argument Lavoisier use to disprove phlogiston theory and show the function of oxygen in the same time.
- Contribution in analytical chemistry an chemical contribution
In order to make a scientific research, Lavoisier measure all materials he use, unlike some scientists in his time. He invented a balance with meticulous accuracy. With this balance, he proved the Law of Conservation of Mass by measuring the weight of all substances that are formed after combustion. Lavoisier also pioneered the use of chemical nomenclature with a small group of other scientists. They classified and clarified distinctions between elements and compounds and become the first modern nomenclature chemist ever made.
- Breakthrough ideas
Lavoisier is also contributing some breakthrough ideas to the modern chemistry. To see some of the ideas from Lavoisier, please go to this link.
No comments:
Post a Comment