Antoine Lavoisier
Antoine Lavoisier
Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisierwas a French nobleman and chemist central to the 18th-century chemical revolution and had a large influence on both the history of chemistry and the history of biology. He is widely considered in popular literature as the "father of modern chemistry"...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth26 August 1743
CityParis, France
CountryFrance
oxygen claims theory
This theory [the oxygen theory] is not as I have heard it described, that of the French chemists, it is mine (elle est la mienne); it is a property which I claim from my contemporaries and from posterity.
air analysis deny great knowledge metals nature numbers precise theory
One will not deny me, I trust, all the theory of oxidation and combustion, the analysis and decomposition of air by metals and combustible bodies, the theory of acidification, more precise knowledge on the nature of a great numbers of acids, notably
advanced almost base began constantly facts infancy modern others practical science short statesman theory
Like almost all others began with metaphysical discussions. The theory has advanced but the practical science is still in its infancy and the modern statesman is constantly short of facts on which he can base his speculations.
arranged composed inclined layers original rocks slate towards
The rocks of the original soil, he wrote, are arranged in perpendicular layers or inclined towards the horizon. They are composed of quartz, granite, shale, slate and talcose.
although cannot cast doubt element entirely judge matter ordinary principles truth unknown wish
Rouelle on the possibility of transmuting one element to another said, Ordinary chemists doubt the truth of the principles of this science, but they cannot judge in a matter entirely unknown to them. Although I do not wish to cast doubt on the testim
beats determined direct heart increase laws lifted number observing proportion quantity quite second succeeded sum utmost weights
We have succeeded in observing two laws of the utmost importance, the first is that the increase in the number of heart beats is in quite direct proportion to the sum of the weights lifted to a determined height, the second is that the quantity of vi
ideas three branches
The impossibility of separating the nomenclature of a science from the science itself, is owing to this, that every branch of physical science must consist of three things; the series of facts which are the objects of the science, the ideas which represent these facts, and the words by which these ideas are expressed. Like three impressions of the same seal, the word ought to produce the idea, and the idea to be a picture of the fact.
science light air
In every combustion there is disengagement of the matter of fire or of light. A body can burn only in pure air [oxygen]. There is no destruction or decomposition of pure air and the increase in weight of the body burnt is exactly equal to the weight of air destroyed or decomposed. The body burnt changes into an acid by addition of the substance that increases its weight. Pure air is a compound of the matter of fire or of light with a base. In combustion the burning body removes the base, which it attracts more strongly than does the matter of heat, which appears as flame, heat and light.
believe flower color
Experiments upon vegetation give reason to believe that light combines with certain parts of vegetables, and that the green of their leaves, and the various colors of flowers, is chiefly owing to this combination.
avid glory young
I am young and avid for glory.
self-confidence imagination self-love
Imagination, on the contrary, which is ever wandering beyond the bounds of truth, joined to self-love and that self-confidence we are so apt to indulge, prompt us to draw conclusions which are not immediately derived from facts.
data body celestial-bodies
Perhaps... some day the precision of the data will be brought so far that the mathematician will be able to calculate at his desk the outcome of any chemical combination, in the same way, so to speak, as he calculates the motions of celestial bodies.
science simple sight
Mathematicians come to the solution of a problem by the simple arrangement of the data, and reducing the reasoning to such simple operations, to judgments so brief, that they never lose sight of the evidence that serves as their guide.
art drawing estimating
The art of drawing conclusions from experiments and observations consists in evaluating probabilities and in estimating whether they are sufficiently great or numerous enough to constitute proofs. This kind of calculation is more complicated and more difficult than it is commonly thought to be. . . .