ABSTRACT

In August 1812, the young Michael Faraday wrote in great exitement that "I would wish you not to be surprised if the old theory of Phlogiston should be again adopted as the true one tho I do not think it will entirely set aside Lavoisiers". Although imperfections in Lavoisier's theory had become evident, he remained on his pedestal as the founder of modern chemistry. Lavoisier quantified chemistry in terms of weights. Lavoisier had been reluctant to enter into questions of particles and forces, believing that these led only to metaphysics and would set chemistry back; but a disciple of Priestley's, sharing his Newtonian dream and feeling for natural theology, was well-placed to set chemistry in a new direction. Oxygen, which had occupied a privileged position in Lavoisier's chemistry, had to share its throne with chlorine; and acidity, which had seemed to be explained, became once again problematic.