Lavoisiers mercury experiment on oxygen
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Lavoisiers mercury experiment on oxygen
Lavoisiers mercury experiment on air. Early engraving showing the apparatus used by Antoine Lavoisier (1743-94) to demonstrate the formation of metal oxides. Mercury was placed in the retort at left, the end of which led to an air chamber in a bell jar over mercury (right). The retort was gently heated over 12 days. A reddish compound formed on the mercury in the retort, and the volume of air in the bell jar decreased. The remaining gas extinguished a flame. This showed that oxygen had been removed from the air. The red compound, on heating, released mercury and generated a gas which supported combustion and would support life (oxygen)
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Media ID 6468267
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Apparatus Experiment History Of Science Mercury Oxidation Oxygen Lavoisier
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures Antoine Lavoisier's groundbreaking mercury experiment on oxygen, showcasing the apparatus he used to demonstrate the formation of metal oxides. In this early engraving, we witness Lavoisier's meticulous setup that revolutionized our understanding of chemistry. On the left side of the image, a retort contains mercury as it connects to an air chamber within a bell jar situated over another pool of mercury on the right. Over a span of 12 days, Lavoisier gently heated the retort and observed a remarkable transformation taking place. A reddish compound began forming on the surface of the mercury in the retort while simultaneously witnessing a decrease in air volume within the bell jar. The significance became apparent when Lavoisier introduced this remaining gas to a flame which promptly extinguished. This crucial observation unveiled that oxygen had been extracted from ordinary air during his experiment. Further exploration revealed that upon heating, this red compound released mercury and generated a gas capable of supporting combustion and sustaining life - what we now know as oxygen. Lavoisier's pioneering work not only laid down foundations for modern chemistry but also shed light on oxidation processes and contributed immensely to our understanding of scientific history. This historical photograph serves as an invaluable testament to his significant contributions in unraveling nature's mysteries through rigorous experimentation.
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