Antoine Laurent Lavoisier

Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794) At the time of his birth in Paris in 1743, far behind the science of chemistry rather than physics, mathematics and astronomy. A large number of discoveries that stand on their own has been discovered by many experts in chemistry, but none of the theoretical framework that can be a handle that can summarize the information separately. At that spread a kind of trust that is not convinced that water and air is an elementary substance.


Even worse, there have been a misunderstanding about the essence of the fire. Growing belief that the time was that all of the combustion process objects contain a substance called the speculation "phlogiston," and that during the combustion process, burning substance that stuff off his phlogiston into the air.

In the period between the years 1754 - 1774, expert-talented chemists like Joseph Black, Joseph Priestley, Henry Cavendish and others have isolated the importance of gas such as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. However, since these people accept the theory of phlogiston, they do not want to understand the nature or significance of chemical substances which have their find. Oxygen, for example, is seen as the air that all of its phlogiston had been diverted. (As we know that the more perfect the wood chips burned in oxygen than in air, this might be easier to suck air from the phlogiston of the new wood). Obviously, the real advances in chemistry can not occur before the main basics can be understood.

The Lavoisier worked and the parts that deal with a puzzle into a single unit that can be justified and find the right direction in theoretical chemistry. In the first phase, said Lavoisier, of the phlogiston theory completely missed: there is no such thing as phlogiston objects. The combustion process of burning of the chemical combination of goods with oxygen. Second, water is not at all elementary stuff but a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen. The air is not too elementary substance but consists mainly of a mixture of two types of gas, oxygen and nitrogen. All of these statements now seem obvious now, but can not yet captured either by Lavoisier predecessors and contemporary colleagues. Even after Lavoisier proposed to formulate his theory and the scientific community, yet still many chemists leaders who reject the idea of ​​this theory. However, the book is brilliant Lavoisier Basic Principles of Chemistry (1789), so bright and crystal clear and put forward the hypothesis is so convincing and outperformed other opinions, then the chemical experts quickly the younger generation believe in it.

While proving that water and air is not a chemical element, Lavoisier included in his list are the substance of the objects which he considered a fundamental sense and rudimentary though the list contains several errors, the list of modern chemical elements present in essentially an extension of what has been arranged Lavoiser it.

Lavoiser have created the first well-organized scheme of chemical systems (in collaboration with Berthollet, and Guyton de Morveau Fourcroi). Lavoisier in the system (the so
basic grip until now) the chemical composition is described by its name. For the first time receiving a uniform chemical system is described that allows the chemists around the world can relate to each other in terms of their inventions.

Lavoisier was the first to clearly put forward the principles of object storage amount of the chemical reactions without particular form: the reaction can set back the correct elements in the original substance but nothing is indestructible, and the end result is the same weight as the origin of components. Lovoisier beliefs about the importance of precision weighing the reactions involving chemicals that alter the chemistry became an exact science and also prepare the way for many advances in chemistry at later times.

Lavoisier also contributed in the field of geological investigation, and also contribute in a convincing weight in the field of physiology. With the experiments very carefully (in collaboration with Laplace), he was able to demonstrate that the physiological process of the sweat or drenched in sweat is basically the same as slow burning process. In other words, human and animal people draw their energy from organic combustion process slowly from within, with the use of oxygen in the air dihimpunnya. This discovery, which may have equal importance with the discovery of Harvey on the circulation of blood is enough to seat Lavoisier role in this book is a chronological list. In addition, Lavoisier had a very important meaning thanks to the chemical formulation of the theory as a starting point for the sector unshakable knowledge of chemistry on the right track. He is generally regarded as the "founder of modern chemistry", and indeed he deserves that title.

"Table of Periodic Elements" is essentially a modern extension of the list of Lavoisier
As with some of the figures listed in the order book, Lavoisier actually studied law at the time adolescence. Although he may be appointed a law degree and an expert in environmental law, but not once did he ever put into practice his knowledge, though there he was dabbling in the world of French administrative offices and public affairs services. But above all he was active in the Royal Academy of Sciences of France. He is also member of the Ferme Generale, an organization engaged in the tax affairs of the world. As a result, after the French Revolution of 1789, very suspicious of the revolutionary government.

Eventually he was arrested, along with twenty-seven members of the Ferme Generale. The Court revolution might not be too careful, but the process is running fast. On the morning of May 8, 1794 twenty-seven men were tried, found guilty and beheaded by guillotine. Lavoisier continued to live with an intelligent wife who always helped in the investigation work.

At trial, there is a request that the case of Lavoisier separated, while promoting a service that has been done to society and science. The judge rejected the request with brief comments "Republicans do not need a genius." Great mathematician Langrange sharply and precisely defended his friend: "It takes an instant to cut off a head, but not quite a hundred years to put that kind of head position before.