Elements of Chemistry

Antoine Lavoisier’s great accomplishments include the discovery of oxygen’s role in combustion, helping to develop the metric system, writing the first extensive list of elements, helping to reform the nomenclature of chemistry, and the discovery that while matter may change shape through chemical reaction its mass remains the same. It is for these extraordinary accomplishments that he is often referred to as the “Father of Modern Chemistry.” Some scholars argue that this moniker is more the result of self-promotion and that his discoveries relied heavily on the work of others, nonetheless his impact on advancing this field of science cannot be understated. «Elements of Chemistry» was first published in 1790 and is largely concerned with the chemistry of combustion. While modern students of chemistry might find the work limited in its scope, the historical impact of its publication cannot be understated. The experiments contained within helped to lay the foundation for the understanding of the role of oxygen, hydrogen, acids, and alcohols in chemical reactions and its emphasis on quantitative analysis and instrumentation helped to establish the use of chemistry as a legitimate science for understanding and defining the physical world.