Black, Joseph (chemist) (1728-1799), British chemist, best known for his detailed account of the isolation and chemical activity of carbon dioxide. Black was born in Bordeaux, France, and educated at the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland. He was professor of chemistry, medicine, and anatomy at the University of Glasgow from 1756 to 1766; thereafter he was professor of chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. In about 1761 Black discovered the phenomenon of latent heat, and three years later he measured the latent heat of steam. His pupil and assistant James Watt later put these discoveries to practical use when he made improvements to the early steam engine. About 1754 Black discovered carbon dioxide, a gas which he called fixed air, and showed its function in the causticization of lime (making lime more alkaline), thus helping to disprove the phlogiston theory of combustion. He also discovered that different substances have different heat capacities.
Encyclopedia Blog For Kid's Research In Sciences, Health, Environment and Technology
Showing posts with label Black. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black. Show all posts
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
A stamp depicting the image of Hanaoka Seishu. Hanaoka Seishu (1760-1835), Japanese physician and pioneer of anesthetic surgery. Hanaok...
-
In the N and W United States the era of mechanized agriculture began with the invention of such farm machines as the reaper, the cultivator,...
-
Fluid Mechanics, physical science dealing with the action of fluids at rest or in motion, and with applications and devices in engineering u...