Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau
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Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau
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| Born | 4 January 1737 |
| Died | 2 January 1816 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | French |
| Known for | chemical nomenclature |
| Spouse(s) | Claudine Picardet |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | chemistry |
Louis-Bernard Guyton, Baron de Morveau (also known as Louis-Bernard Guyton-Morveau after the French Revolution) was a French scientist. He was born on January 4, 1737, and passed away on January 2, 1816. He was a chemist, a politician, and even an aeronaut (someone who flies in balloons or airships). He is famous for creating the first organized way to name chemicals.
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Early Life and Chemistry Discoveries
Guyton de Morveau was born in Dijon, France. For a while, he worked as a lawyer there.
In 1773, he became very interested in chemistry. He suggested using a gas called "muriatic acid gas" to clean and purify buildings. People sometimes give him credit for suggesting chlorine for this use. However, at that time, chlorine was not fully understood. The gas he used was actually hydrogen chloride, which is made by mixing sodium chloride (table salt) and sulfuric acid.
Another scientist, Jean Pierre Chardenon, told him he should stick to writing and not chemistry. This challenge made Guyton de Morveau decide to leave his law job in 1782. He then spent all his time on chemistry. He worked on a big encyclopedia called Encyclopédie Méthodique. He also helped apply chemistry to industries. He started a company called La Société des Mines et Verreries. He is best known for developing the first system for naming chemicals in a clear, organized way.
In 1783, he became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In 1788, he also became a Fellow of the Royal Society in London.
Role in the French Revolution
During the French Revolution, Guyton de Morveau changed his name to Guyton-Morveau. He became an important political leader in the Côte-d'Or region in 1790. He was later chosen to be a representative in the Legislative Assembly in 1792. After that, he joined the National Convention.
He was a member of the Committee of Public Safety from April to July 1793. He then left this role to focus on making firearms. He also helped create a group of balloonists for the French army. He even flew in a balloon himself during the Battle of Fleurus in 1794. He helped in several other battles by using balloons for observation.
Later Years and Achievements
After the Revolution, Guyton de Morveau helped start two important schools: the École polytechnique and the École de Mars. He taught mineralogy at the Polytechnique and was its director in 1797. He became a top member of the Académie des sciences in chemistry in 1795. He later became vice-president and then president of the chemistry section.
In 1798, he married Claudine Picardet, who was also a scientist and a friend. He continued to serve in government roles. He was part of the Council of Five Hundred and later worked for the Treasury under the French Consulate.
Important Works
Guyton de Morveau wrote many scientific articles. He also wrote books, including:
- Mémoire sur l’éducation publique (1762), about public education.
- Traité des moyens de désinfecter l’air (1801), which explained how chlorine and hydrochloric acid gas could clean the air. He had used these methods successfully in Dijon back in 1773.
He also worked with Hugues Maret and Jean François Durande to publish Élémens de chymie théorique et pratique (1776–1777). This book was about the basics of chemistry.
Awards and Recognition
Guyton de Morveau received several honors during his life. He was given the cross of the Legion of Honour in 1803. He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour in 1805 for his work helping people. In 1811, he was given the title of baron by the First French Empire.
In 2015, his 1788 book, Méthode de Nomenclature Chimique, received a special award. This book, which he wrote with Antoine Lavoisier, Claude Louis Berthollet, and Antoine François, comte de Fourcroy, was honored for being a "Chemical Breakthrough."
Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau passed away in Paris on January 2, 1816.
Images for kids
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First page of Lavoisier's Chymical Nomenclature
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Airship flown by Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau, 1784
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First flight with a dirigible balloon, 12 June 1784.
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1787 copy of "Méthode de Nomenclature Chimique," featuring work by Morveau
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1787 copy of "Méthode de Nomenclature Chimique," featuring work by Morveau
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See also
In Spanish: Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau para niños
