Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier (1743-1794) was a great French chemist. At that time, “Phlogiston theory” dominated Europe for hundreds of years (This was a highly erroneous theory about combustion in the 18th century). In 1777, he published a research report titled “On Combustion,” in which he outlined the mistakes of “Phlogiston theory.” He demonstrated that combustion is merely a type of oxidation reaction involving material and oxygen gas.
He was the first to name “Hydrogen,” and he was also the first to use chemical equations to record chemical reactions. In 1789, his famous work, “Elementary Treatise on Chemistry,” completed the chemical revolution, radically changing the course of chemistry.
Deciding not to become a lawyer
Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier was born into a family of lawyers in Paris, France. His father was a lawyer but had many friends who were scientists, whom young Antoine greatly admired. Whenever his father’s scientist friends visited, young Antoine eagerly helped his mother serve tea. While they talked, young Antoine sat beside them, attentively listening. Antoine gradually became fascinated with science, and as a child, he self-studied astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, geology, and botany.
Once, during summer vacation, young Antoine accompanied Mr. Kéyta, a famous mineral researcher and friend of his father’s, into the woods to map geological features. 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, where, as someone who loved science, he found little interest in his studies.
Because of his passion for chemistry, while studying at university, Antoine simultaneously studied law and devoted time to attend lectures by a famous chemist. Besides attending lectures, he also spent a lot of time in the library reading numerous books on chemistry.
Antoine once told a classmate: “For me, studying law is a duty, while studying chemistry is a pleasure.” Besides his enthusiasm, another reason was that as his knowledge of chemistry grew, he deeply felt that there was still much to explore and resolve in the field of chemistry.
After graduating from university, 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 career.
That year, Antoine was only 20 years old, and while sitting in his father’s prestigious law office, he still did not understand why he was there. He had no interest in this job at all, often sitting quietly, gazing out the window like a lost soul.
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, exclaimed: “What do you mean? Sit down and let me see!”
“I want to leave here” – he replied to his father decisively, and after a moment, he left his father’s law office. And from then on, Antoine remained 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 soil?“
