Aug 26: Lavoisier Birth Anniversary: How This Tragic French Revolution Hero Influenced The Way Chemistry Is Taught Today

Antoine Lavoisier is one such meticulous experimenter from France who revolutionized the subject chemistry.

From establishing the law of conservation of mass, understanding combustion, to systematising chemical nomenclature, contribution of Lavoisier is next to indescribable. This year, on 26th Aug, marks this great scientist's 280th birth anniversary.

Early life and education:

Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier was born on August 26, 1743 in Paris. He belonged to an affluent middle-class family, where his both grandfather and father were lawyers. His mother came from a business family in the meat industry. Lavoisier with his younger sister were brought up by grandmother as they lost their mother at a very early stage.

Lavoisier, who studied law at the University of Paris, to continue the family's tradition, eventually developed interest in geology, astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, and botany.

The money Lavoisier received through inheritance, invested on buying a share of a tax collecting company.

At that time, "tax collection was conducted by private companies and later handed over to the government in return for the right to retain any amount collected beyond what was pledged to the King," according to French literature.

This tax collection business benefited Lavoisier financially, which allowed him to pursue his scientific studies.

Marriage:

In 1771, Lavoisier (28 years at that time) married Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze (13 years), a daughter of one of his colleagues. On the occasion of their marriage, his father bought him 'a title of nobility' and he became "de Lavoisier" officially.

Despite the age gap the couple had a pleasing marriage. Even Paulze decided to learn chemistry and later contributed to Lavoisier's research. She archived research documentation by record writing and hand-drawing sketches.

Lavoisier with his wife Marie Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier.

(Credit - @royalsociety X handle)

Scientific experiments:

Lavoisier, through extensive study, observed that by the breathing process oxygen converts into carbon dioxide. In this study, he was accompanied with Pierre Laplace.

He was a pioneer in measuring heat index of living organisms.

He conducted a study (to show the heat index) by placing a guinea pig in a cage surrounded by ice. After sometimes, he measured how much ice became defrosted caused by animal's body temperature.

He further studied a similar installation for coal to measure the actual amount of carbon emitted during that process. Indirectly, he understood "animals burn carbon using their food combined with the oxygen they breathe."

Greatest contribution to science:

Lavoisier published a summary of his research in chemistry entitled "Elementary Treatise of Chemistry" (originally named as Traité Élémentaire de Cehimie) in 1789. This book provided the foundations of chemistry as a proper and organised scientific discipline. This work is still considered as one of the most read texts in the history of science.

Lavoisier truly provided the fundamentals of modern chemistry. This book was written as a "beginner’s guide to chemistry." This included a huge table recognising 55 elements with old names. The reviewers have have provided the new name in the latest publications.

The tragic death and the legacy:

During the French Revolution (started in 1789), Lavoisier, saw it as an opportunity for betterment of nation’s politics and economy. Unfortunately, the leaders didn't listen to his thoughts. Just before his 51st birthday (in 1794), Lavoisier along with couple of owners of tax firms were guillotined.

In 1796, Lavoisier was acquitted on all counts. After many years, history has recognized his contribution. Today Lavoisier's sculptures can be observed all over France and many other countries, and institutions.

Lavoisier is one of the 72 French scientists whose names are engraved brightly on the Eiffel Tower; the most prominent symbol of modern France.

"It took them only an instant to cut off this head, and one hundred years might not suffice to reproduce its like," said mathematician Joseph Louis Lagrange about his colleague and friend Antoine Lavoisier.