Part III — Chapter 7
The Chemical Revolution
Lavoisier, Priestley, and the transformation of chemistry into a modern science
7.1 Phlogiston and Its Demise
Before Lavoisier, combustion was explained by the hypothetical substance phlogiston. The discovery of oxygen revealed that burning and rusting are chemical reactions with a real element, not the release of an imaginary one.
7.2 Priestley and Oxygen
Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) isolated oxygen in 1774 by heating mercuric oxide, calling it "dephlogisticated air." He also discovered several other gases and invented carbonated water.
7.3 Lavoisier — Father of Modern Chemistry
Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794) established the law of conservation of mass, named oxygen and hydrogen, compiled the first modern list of elements, and reformed chemical nomenclature. He was executed during the French Revolution.