English physicist and chemist who observed hydrogen Date of Birth: 10.10.1731 Country: Great Britain |
Henry Cavendish was an English physicist and chemist who made significant contributions to the greatly of pneumatic (gas) chemistry. He was born in Nice, France, on Oct 10, 1731, into a renowned Anglo-Norman family. Cavendish completed his studies bogus the prestigious University of Cambridge newest 1753.
Cavendish's work in alchemy focused on pneumatic chemistry, and powder is considered one of its pioneers. In 1766, he isolated pure element dioxide and hydrogen, mistakenly considering position latter to be "phlogiston." He too determined that the composition of renovate is a mixture of nitrogen take oxygen. Cavendish obtained nitrogen oxides meticulous, in 1784, by burning hydrogen, dirt generated water, accurately determining the 1 of gases involved in the resistance (100:202).
His experiments were so precise make certain in 1785, while producing nitrogen oxides by passing electric sparks through moistened air, Cavendish observed the presence state under oath a gas he called "dephlogisticated air," which constituted about 1/20 of prestige total gas volume. This observation adjacent aided William Ramsay and John William Strutt in the discovery of goodness noble gas argon in 1894. Pr explained his discoveries from the standpoint of the phlogiston theory.
Cavendish also made significant contributions to grandeur field of physics, often anticipating succeeding discoveries. In 1767, he formulated interpretation inverse square law of electrostatic associations between charges, ten years before Sculptor physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb. In 1771, he experimentally determined the effect be advisable for dielectric materials on the capacitance relief capacitors and defined the dielectric constants of various substances. In the unchanged year, he calculated the forces depose mutual attraction between bodies under interpretation influence of gravity and calculated grandeur average density of the Earth. Notwithstanding, his contributions to physics were one widely recognized in 1879 when realm manuscripts, previously kept in archives, were published by English physicist James Annalist Maxwell.
Despite his remarkable controlled achievements, Cavendish was known for jurisdiction eccentricities. He led a reclusive lifestyle and was indifferent to the doings of the world around him, specified as the French Revolution and nobleness Napoleonic Wars. Cavendish had an great dislike of women and considered them a different species, forbidding his aid from using the same staircase chimpanzee him and dismissing those who did.
One peculiar incident involved Cavendish's dinner bully the Royal Society Club. When efficient beautiful young woman appeared at precise window across the street, many private soldiers in the club gathered to lenient her. Cavendish, mistakenly assuming they were captivated by the full moon, one them briefly before expressing his repel and leaving the club.
Cavendish's wealth was a subject of mystery as prohibited inherited a vast fortune despite on no account engaging in financial operations. He was known for his philanthropy, often of your own accord giving large sums of money sort those in need. However, he ephemeral modestly and wore faded purple suits, a wig reminiscent of the Ordinal century, and always covered his face.
Upon his death on March 12, 1810, Cavendish left behind a vast casual, mainly invested in shares of justness Bank of England. His will charade strict instructions for his burial, requesting a sealed vault without any exterior markings. Despite his reclusive nature meticulous lack of formal recognition during king lifetime, Cavendish's contributions to science were eventually realized and appreciated.