Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier (1743-1794) was a great French chemist. At that time, the “Phlogiston Theory” dominated Europe for hundreds of years (This theory was fundamentally flawed regarding combustion in the 18th century). In 1777, he published a research report titled “Concept of Combustion,” which outlined the errors of the “Phlogiston Theory.” He demonstrated that combustion is simply a form of oxidation produced from matter reacting with oxygen.
He was the first to name “Hydrogen,” and he was the first to use chemical equations to document chemical reactions. In 1789, his famous work “Elementary Treatise on Chemistry” completed the chemical revolution, radically changing the course of chemical science.
Choosing Not to Become a Lawyer
Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier was born into a family of lawyers in Paris, France. His father practiced law but had many friends who were scientists, individuals whom Antoine admired greatly as a child. Whenever his father’s scientist friends visited, Antoine eagerly helped his mother serve tea. While everyone conversed, young Antoine sat beside them, attentively listening. Gradually, he became fascinated with science, teaching himself astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, geology, and botany from a young age.
Once during summer vacation, young Antoine accompanied Mr. Cayta, a famous mineral researcher and friend of his father’s, into the forest to draw geological maps. There, Antoine learned a great deal about fascinating mineralogy.
Before long, he graduated from high school and enrolled in law school at his father’s request. Despite his passion for science, he found the work uninteresting.
While studying law at university, Antoine devoted time to attending lectures by a renowned chemist. In addition to attending lectures, he spent considerable time in the library reading numerous chemistry books.
Antoine once told his classmates: “For me, studying law is a duty, while studying chemistry is a passion.” Beyond his interest, another reason was that as his knowledge of chemistry grew, he felt profoundly that there were still many areas in the field of chemistry awaiting exploration and resolution.
After graduating, he obtained a law degree and a license to practice law. His mother was very happy, especially his father, as his son would inherit his legacy.
At the age of 20, while sitting in his father’s prestigious law office, he still wondered why he was there. He had no interest in this work and often sat quietly staring out the window, looking dazed.
Seeing this, his father asked, “What are you doing?”
Antoine stood up, still looking outside, and absentmindedly replied, “I think I should leave this place!”
His father, unable to bear it, responded, “What are you saying? Sit down and let me see!”
“I want to leave here” – he answered his father decisively and soon left his father’s law office. And from that point on, Antoine became a great chemist.
“Do not rely on judgment but base it on reality”
— Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier —
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Stay tuned for: “Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier – Can Water Turn into Land?“
