Citizendia

Joseph Black
Mezzotint engraving after Sir Henry Raeburn
BornApril 16, 1728
Bordeaux, France
DiedDecember 6, 1799
Edinburgh
NationalityScottish
FieldsMedicine, physics, and chemistry
Doctoral studentsJames Watt
Known forLatent heat, specific heat, and the discovery of carbon dioxide

Joseph Black (April 16, 1728 – December 6, 1799 [1]) was a Scottish physicist and chemist, known for his discoveries of latent heat, specific heat, and carbon dioxide. Mezzotint is a Printmaking process of the intaglio family technically a Drypoint method Sir Henry Raeburn ( 4 March, 1756 - 8 July, 1823) was a Scottish Portrait painter. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom Year 1728 ( MDCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a ( Gascon: Bordèu) is a port city in southwest France, with one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area at a 2008 estimate Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1799 ( MDCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties James Watt ( 19 January 1736 &ndash 25 August 1819 Boulton proved to be an excellent businessman and both men eventually made fortunes In Thermochemistry, latent heat is the amount of Energy in the form of Heat released or absorbed by a substance during a change of phase Specific heat capacity, also known simply as specific heat, is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the Temperature of a unit quantity Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom Year 1728 ( MDCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1799 ( MDCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. A physicist is a Scientist who studies or practices Physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning A chemist is a Scientist trained in the Science of Chemistry. In Thermochemistry, latent heat is the amount of Energy in the form of Heat released or absorbed by a substance during a change of phase Specific heat capacity, also known simply as specific heat, is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the Temperature of a unit quantity Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single He was a founder of thermochemistry who developed many pre-thermodynamics concepts, such as heat capacity, and was the mentor for James Watt. In Thermodynamics and Physical chemistry, thermochemistry is the study of the Heat evolved or absorbed in Chemical reactions Thermochemistry In Physics, thermodynamics (from the Greek θερμη therme meaning " Heat " and δυναμις dynamis meaning " Specific heat capacity, also known simply as specific heat, is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the Temperature of a unit quantity James Watt ( 19 January 1736 &ndash 25 August 1819 Boulton proved to be an excellent businessman and both men eventually made fortunes The chemistry buildings at both the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow are named after him. Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties The University of Edinburgh (Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann founded in 1582 is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. The University of Glasgow (Oilthigh Ghlaschu was founded in 1451 in Glasgow, Scotland and along with its contemporary institutions the University of St Andrews

Contents

Early years

Black was born in Bordeaux, France, where his father, who was from Belfast, Ireland, was engaged in the wine trade. ( Gascon: Bordèu) is a port city in southwest France, with one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area at a 2008 estimate Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world His mother was from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and her family was also in the wine business. Aberdeenshire (Siorrachd Obar Dheathain is one of the 32 unitary Council areas in Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Joseph had twelve brothers and sisters. [2] He entered the University of Glasgow when he was eighteen years old, and four years later he went to Edinburgh to further his medical studies. The University of Glasgow (Oilthigh Ghlaschu was founded in 1451 in Glasgow, Scotland and along with its contemporary institutions the University of St Andrews Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow.

Professional life

The world’s first ice-calorimeter, used in the winter of 1782-83, by Antoine Lavoisier and Pierre-Simon Laplace, to determine the heat evolved in various chemical changes; calculations which were based on Joseph Black’s prior discovery of latent heat
The world’s first ice-calorimeter, used in the winter of 1782-83, by Antoine Lavoisier and Pierre-Simon Laplace, to determine the heat evolved in various chemical changes; calculations which were based on Joseph Black’s prior discovery of latent heat

While at the University of Edinburgh, Black studied properties of carbon dioxide (CO2). In Physics, heat, symbolized by Q, is Energy transferred from one body or system to another due to a difference in Temperature Is a process in which Reactants are changed into one or more different products. In Thermochemistry, latent heat is the amount of Energy in the form of Heat released or absorbed by a substance during a change of phase Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single [3]. One of his experiments involved placing a flame and mice into the carbon dioxide. Because both entities died, Black concluded that the air was not breathable. He named it 'fixed air' in 1754. In 1756 Black described how carbonates become more alkaline when they lose carbon dioxide, whereas the taking-up of carbon dioxide reconverts them. In Chemistry, a carbonate is a salt or Ester of Carbonic acid. He was the first person to isolate carbon dioxide in a perfectly pure state. This was an important step in the history of chemistry as it helped people to realize that air was not an element, but rather was composed of many different things. Black's work also aided in discrediting the belief in a fiery principle called phlogiston. The phlogiston theory (from the Ancient Greek φλογιστόν phlŏgistón "burning up" from φλόξ phlóx "fire" first stated

In about 1750, Joseph Black developed the analytical balance based on a light-weight beam balanced on a wedge-shaped fulcrum. A weighing scale (usually just "scale" in common usage except in Australian English where "scales" is more common is a Measuring instrument for Each arm carried a pan on which the sample or standard weights was placed. It far exceeded the accuracy of any other balance of the time and became an important scientific instrument in most chemistry laboratories. [4].

In 1757, he was appointed Regius Professor of the Practice of Medicine at the University of Glasgow. The Regius Chair of Medicine and Therapeutics is technically the oldest Professorship at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. The University of Glasgow (Oilthigh Ghlaschu was founded in 1451 in Glasgow, Scotland and along with its contemporary institutions the University of St Andrews

In 1761, wrote Ogg, Black deduced that the application of heat to ice does not cause its immediate liquefaction, rather the ice absorbed the heat without a rise in temperature. Temperature is a physical property of a system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold something that is hotter generally has the greater temperature [5] Additionally, Black observed that the application of heat to boiling water does not result in immediate evaporation. From these observations, he concluded that the heat applied must have combined with the ice particles and boiling water and become latent. In Thermochemistry, latent heat is the amount of Energy in the form of Heat released or absorbed by a substance during a change of phase In espousing his theory of latent heat, said Ogg, the new subject of thermal science commenced. [6]

A Watt steam engine
A Watt steam engine

Black's theory of latent heat was one of his more-important scientific contribution, and one on which his scientific fame chiefly rests. The Watt steam engine was the first type of Steam engine to make use of steam at a pressure just above atmospheric to drive the piston helped by a partial vacuum He also showed that different substances have different specific heats. This all proved important not only in the development of abstract science but in the development of the steam engine. A steam engine is a Heat engine that performs Mechanical work using Steam as its Working fluid. [7]

Personal life

Black was a friend of James Watt, who first began his studies on steam power at Glasgow University in 1761. James Watt ( 19 January 1736 &ndash 25 August 1819 Boulton proved to be an excellent businessman and both men eventually made fortunes Black also was a member of the Poker Club and associated with David Hume, Adam Smith, and the literati of the Scottish Enlightenment. The Poker Club was one of several clubs at the heart of the Scottish Enlightenment where many associated with that movement met and exchanged views in a convivial David Hume (26 April 1711 25 August 1776 Scottish Philosopher, Economist, and Historian is an important figure in Western philosophy Adam Smith ( baptised 16 June 1723 – 17 July 1790) was a Scottish moral philosopher and a pioneer of Political economy. The Scottish Enlightenment was the period in 18th century Scotland characterised by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments Black never married. He died in Edinburgh at the age of 71, and is buried there in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Greyfriars_signjpg|thumb|right|250px|A sign at the entrance giving a brief history of the Kirkyard and its inhabitants]] Greyfriars Kirkyard is the Graveyard surrounding

Also see

References

  1. ^ Guerlac, Henry (1970-80). Calorimetry is the Science of measuring the Heat of Chemical Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single In Physics, heat, symbolized by Q, is Energy transferred from one body or system to another due to a difference in Temperature In Thermodynamics and Physical chemistry, thermochemistry is the study of the Heat evolved or absorbed in Chemical reactions Thermochemistry In Physics, thermodynamics (from the Greek θερμη therme meaning " Heat " and δυναμις dynamis meaning " "Black, Joseph". Dictionary of Scientific Biography 2. The Dictionary of Scientific Biography is a scholarly reference work that was published from 1970 through 1980 New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 173-183. ISBN 0684101149.  
  2. ^ Lenard, Philipp (1950). Great Men of Science. London: G. Bell and Sons, 129. ISBN 0-8369-1614-X.   (Translated from the second German edition)
  3. ^ Experiments upon Magnesia Alba, Quick-Lime, and some other Alkaline Substances. Retrieved on 2008-03-08. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion.
  4. ^ Equal Arm Analytical Balances. Retrieved on 2008-03-08. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion.
  5. ^ Ogg, David (1965). Europe of the Ancien Regime: 1715-1783. Harper & Row.  
  6. ^ Ogg, David (1965). Europe of the Ancien Regime: 1715-1783. Harper & Row, 117 and 283.  
  7. ^ Ogg, David (1965). Europe of the Ancien Regime: 1715-1783. Harper & Row, 283.  

Further reading

External links

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