Oxygen theory of acids

In contrast to his fleeting commitment to the oxygen theory of acidity, Berthollet maintained the dynamic understanding of chemical constitution laid out in Lavoisier s Traite, which became the conscious theoretical frontier of the Arsenal Group. In addition to Guyton, who had been nurturing a concept of phlogiston quite similar to Lavoisier s caloric in its dissolutive function, Fourcroy also incorporated heat into his... 

Le Grand, The Conversion of C. L. Berthollet idem, Lavoisier s Oxygen Theory of Acidity, Annals of Science 29, 1972, 1-18. 

Le Grand, H. E. Ideas on the Composition of Muriatic Acid and Their Relevance to the Oxygen Theory of Acidity. Annals of Science 31, 1974, 213-225. 

Leaving for the present the oxygen theory of acids, let us start with the water ion theory where an acid is a hydrogen compound which in... 

The work was of immense importance to the field, but let s note some interesting little flaws that prove that even Lavoisier was not infallible. First, he names vital air as oxygene, which means acid maker. This was reasonable to Lavoisier since combustion of carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus in pure oxygen each produced acids. His oxygen theory of acids was well accepted. This included... 

Berzelius was of the opinion that established theories should not be set aside by new ones, even if the latter were satisfactory in a restricted field, unless they were indisputably shown to be superior to the old. His wide knowledge enabled him to see the consequences of a new theory in all branches of the science, and he was afraid of disturbing what had shown itself to be useful and fruitful. Until 1822 he refused to accept Davy s theory that chlorine was an element, since this was completely incompatible with fully established chemical conceptions (i.e. Lavoisier s oxygen theory of acids). The old theory is given in his Ldrbok i KemieUy and was not abandoned until 1823 P 8). He also regarded nitrogen as the oxide of a hypothetical radical ammonium (or... 

In June 1787 Lavoisier, who was a stickler for exact wording, says of his oxygen theory of acids si toutefois on peut donner le nom de theorie a une verite de fait et d observation qui, par sa generalite, peut etre regardee comme une loi constante de la nature. ... 

The view of the constitution of a gas or elastic fluid held by Lavoisier is like that subsequently adopted by Dalton (see p. 767). The elasticity is due to the tendency of the molecules to separate from one another , and there is some pressure even when they are very rarefied, hence this repulsion is exerted at very great distances. Parts of the memoir are reproduced in a report on the Nomenclature Chimique read by Lavoisier to the Academy on 27 June 1787. For his oxygen theory of acids he refers to the Opuscules ch. ix), and... 

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