father of modern chemistry- Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier

 

Early life of Antoine Laurent Lavoisier

Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier, also known as "the father of modern chemistry," was born on August 26, 1743, in Paris, France, into a wealthy and influential family. His father, Jean-Antoine Lavoisier was a lawyer, and his mother, Emilie, came from a merchant family. unfortunately, his mother passed away when he was only five years old.

Education of Antoine

Antoine received a privileged education, supported by his family's wealth and connections. He attended the college Mazarin in Paris, where he learned about science, mathematics, and some classical languages.

At the age of 17, Antoine joined Law school, following the path of his father. But Antoine has a True interest in the natural sciences. At the time when he was studying law, he also attended lectures in botany, chemistry, and astronomy at the 

MUSEUM NATIONAL D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE and some other academics in Paris. He was greatly influenced by Prime scientists of the time, scientists named Jean-Etienne, and Guillaume-Francois, with the help of these scientists he was introduced to the fundamentals of experimental chemistry. 

Antoine's Achievements in the field of science

Some of his contributions include:  

1. Discovery of the role of oxygen:

-Antoine identified and named oxygen as a different element.

-He showed the critical role of oxygen in combustion and respiration and in many other processes.

-Phlogiston's theory was disproved by Antoine and then he established the law of conservation of mass.

2. Law of conservation of mass:

-Demonstrated that mass is always conserved in chemical reactions.

-The law says that the mass of the reactant is always equal to the mass of the product in a closed system.

3. Water composition:

-Proves that water is not an element but it is a compound that is made up of hydrogen and oxygen.

-By this, he changes the understanding of chemical substances.

4. Quantitative chemistry:

-Introduced the term measurement in chemistry in chemical experiments.

-He shows the importance of balance and accuracy. 

-Gives a new look to chemistry and Transformed chemistry to quantitative science.

5. Respiration understanding:

-Antoine shows that respiration is a slow form of combustion that occurs only in living organisms.

-That produces carbon dioxide(Co2) and oxygen(o2).

Antoine life's

 In the year 1771, Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier married Marie-Anne and she became a vital collaborator, assisting in translating work and in experiments.

Antoine had an interest in agriculture, mainly in studying soil and fertilizers and he was also involved in public projects.

Antoine works as a tax collector in FERME GENERALE, an agency in France which was private sector. This provides Antoine with financial stability and also contributes to his downfall at the time of the French Revolution.

Antoine's destruction and implementation

At the time of the French Revolution Antoine was associated with the tax system which made him a target Despite his scientific fundamentals, Antoine was arrested during the reign of terror.

In the year 1794, On May 18, at the age of 50, he died and this was famously remarked by mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange. 

He says'' It took them only an instant to cut off that head, but it will take a hundred years to produce another like it''.

Antoine's legacy

Antoine is celebrating transforming chemistry into an empirical science.

In the year 1789, Antoine's Book'' Elementary Treatise on Chemistry'' published and is considered the first modern chemistry textbook, to properly present chemical principles.

Antoine works form the foundation for studying chemical nomenclature and understanding chemical reactions.

Great lines by Antoine

''Nothing is lost, Nothing is created, everything is transformed''.

''We must trust nothing but facts. These are presented to us by nature, and cannot deceive''.