Antoine Lavoisier

Institut de France, Paris 13 June 2017

Lavoisier humanexp

Lavoisier explaining to his wife the result of his experimen Wellcome V0018151

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Lavoisier und Nemours

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Lavoisier cour Napoleon Louvre

Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier (26 August 1743 – 8 May 1794) was a French chemist who is often referred to as the "father of modern chemistry." His work laid the foundation for the Chemical revolution and radically changed the nature of chemistry research. Lavoisier was the first to establish that water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen and to demonstrate that combustion is a result of a chemical reaction with oxygen. He also helped construct the periodic table and named both oxygen and hydrogen.

Early Life

Antoine Lavoisier was born into a wealthy Parisian family in 1743. He was initially educated at the Collège des Quatre-Nations, where he developed an interest in chemistry, botany, astronomy, and mathematics. Lavoisier went on to study law at the University of Paris, but his passion for science led him to pursue a career in chemistry.

Contributions to Chemistry

Lavoisier's most significant contributions to chemistry include his work on the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. This principle helped to discredit the then-prevailing theory of phlogiston, a substance that was believed to be released during combustion.

In a series of experiments conducted with Pierre-Simon Laplace, Lavoisier demonstrated that combustion and respiration are essentially the same process, both involving the consumption of oxygen. He also worked on the nomenclature of chemistry, leading to the publication of the Méthode de nomenclature chimique in 1787, which introduced a systematic chemical naming system. This work was crucial for the development of a standardized language in chemistry.

Political Career and Death

Lavoisier's scientific career was intertwined with his political activities. He was a member of several governmental bodies, including the Ferme Générale, a private tax collection company, which made him deeply unpopular among the French populace. During the French Revolution, Lavoisier was charged with fraud and misappropriation of public funds, largely due to his association with the Ferme Générale.

On 8 May 1794, Lavoisier was executed by guillotine. His death is often cited as a significant loss to the scientific community and a tragic example of the excesses of the Revolution.

Legacy

Lavoisier's work fundamentally changed the field of chemistry, transforming it from a qualitative to a quantitative science. His insistence on precise measurement and careful experimentation set new standards for scientific method. The Lavoisier Law, which states that the total mass in a chemical reaction remains constant, remains a fundamental principle of chemistry.

Today, Lavoisier is remembered not only for his scientific achievements but also for his role in the development of modern chemistry as a disciplined science. His contributions are commemorated in various ways, including the naming of the element lawrencium in his honor.