The Combustible Gas in Mars

At the beginning of the 17 century, Paracelsus in Basel and J. B. van Helmont in Flanders had both noticed gas bubbles on iron in contact with sulfuric acid but they did not continue their investigations. In this connection van Helmont, however, began to use the term gases , thus abandoning the earlier designation elastic fluids . 

In his scientific works after 1750 he gives a remarkably modem impression. In fact before the discovery of oxygen he made clear - by weighing experiments - that some component of air combines with metals in combustion. This is recounted in Chapter 47 Oxygen of this book. He regarded heat as a sort of movement, suggested a wave theory for hght and formulated a law about the indestructibility of matter. 

Mikhail Vasilyevich was a versatile and talented man. During the 1750s he became a scientist of good international repute and became known as the founder of Russian science. He took an active part in the foundation of the university in Moscow in 1755, which today is named after him The Lomonosov Moscow State University. In 1760 he was the first Russian to be elected as a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science. The well-known chemist Georg Brandt was Academy President at this time and could welcome his Russian colleague. 

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