Newtonian Innovator

Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794) - Antoine Lavoisier

Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794): Antoine Lavoisier was a prominent French chemist renowned for his significant contributions that reshaped the field of chemistry in the late 18th century. He developed the theory of conservation of mass which states that the mass of a closed system will remain constant regardless of the processes acting inside the system. This revolutionary concept led to the law of conservation of matter in chemical reactions. Lavoisier also identified and named two fundamental chemical elements: oxygen and hydrogen. His experiments led him to propose that combustion and respiration are caused by chemical reactions with oxygen, effectively debunking the long-standing phlogiston theory. Due to his work, Lavoisier is often referred to as the “father of modern chemistry.” His rigorous methods, insistence on precise measurement and clear definitions significantly elevated the scientific approach in chemistry.