Chapter 161 The Father of Chemistry

Joseph could not say that he had heard of the name Lavoisier, he could only say that he had heard it like thunder.

The greatest French chemist in the 18th century, he is known as the "Father of Modern Chemistry" and the "Newton of Chemistry".

He is the founder of modern chemistry. Proved the law of conservation of mass. Defines the concept of "element". Invented the modern chemical list, the prototype of the periodic table of elements. Created the oxidation theory and ended the "phlogiston theory".

To put it simply, it is the fighting bull among the chemistry giants.

Joseph suddenly felt relieved. No wonder the Royal Gunpowder Bureau couldn't do anything without their director - any department would be dependent on a skilled man like Lavoisier. It is estimated that all the previous research and development work of the Gunpowder Bureau was conducted around Lavoisier. When he asked for leave, the others lost their backbone.

The Assistant Director of the Gunpowder Bureau looked at the Crown Prince carefully:

"Your Highness, then I will inform the director to come see you."

"No need." Joseph stood up.

Whether it was out of admiration for the scholars who left their names in history or respect for the current academic masters, he felt that he should pay a visit to Lavoisier in person.

He looked at the assistant director: "Please tell me Mr. Lavoisier's address."

Less than two miles outside the Palace of Versailles, you can see people changing to track carriages not far away - the British track-laying technicians are quite fast. The wooden track has now been laid to the western suburbs of Paris. In another month at most, you can take the track carriage directly from the Palace of Versailles to Paris.

The nobles who were queuing up to change cars all made way for the Crown Prince. Joseph did not refuse and got directly into a four-person track carriage.

The car was speeding on the wooden track at a very fast speed, more than twice as fast as an ordinary carriage. And because the resistance of the wooden track is very small, it is obvious that the horse pulling the cart is extremely relaxed, almost like running without any load.

In the past, on the way from Versailles to Paris, the horse had to slow down and rest at least once or twice. This time, not only did the horse not rest, but it even accelerated and sprinted when it encountered a downhill section, causing the driver to have to make a continuous "ooo" sound to restrain the horse.

Joseph looked out the window at the trees that were rapidly sweeping backwards, and estimated that the speed of the car was close to that of the electric donkeys of later generations.

He secretly thought that he should first build a wooden track around Paris, and then build a north-south track across Paris. The east-west wooden rails had been repaired ahead of Fashion Week.

By then, the overall traffic efficiency of Paris will be the highest in Europe, significantly improving the efficiency of the entire city.

As for the construction cost, with the demonstration effect of this wooden track, it is completely possible to raise funds from the private sector and use the operating rights of rail transit as a means of repayment, just like the highway model of later generations.

When Paris's rail transit becomes famous, we can try to build rail lines from Paris to Lyon and other industrial areas to promote product sales.

You should know that although these wooden tracks can only be used for carriages, they will not be wasted in the future, because the foundation and sleepers below can be used with railway tracks.

After France's steel production increased and the steam train was invented, the wooden tracks above were removed and replaced with railroad tracks, allowing trains to pass in a short time.

In just an hour, the carriage arrived at the west side of Paris Saint-Germain district. Joseph got out of the car and walked a short distance, and saw a gray-white villa not far away.

Eman looked around at the road signs and said to him: "Your Highness, this should be here."

Joseph looked at the exquisite villa, as well as the three to four hundred square meters of flower gardens and children's play area within the walls of the villa, and then he remembered Lavoisier's other identity - a tax collector.

If I remember correctly, Lavoisier contracted the salt tax and tobacco tax of 500,000 livres, and his annual income should be 80,000 to 100,000. He was considered a very wealthy family.

However, it was precisely this identity that caused him to lose his life in Da Ge. Lagrange once said sadly:

"They can chop his head off in the blink of an eye, but a mind like his won't grow again in a hundred years!"

Joseph sighed in his heart. As long as he was around, he would never let a gem-level scientist like Lavoisier be killed.

Lavoisier never expected that His Royal Highness the Dauphin would suddenly visit, and he was surprised and nervous to welcome him with his whole family and servants.

"Ah, it's such an honor for me, His Royal Highness the Dauphin!" Lavoisier saluted respectfully in front of the door, "I didn't expect you to come here."

Joseph smiled and nodded in return, pulled the chemist toward the room, and asked with concern:

"I heard that you took a long leave. Are you feeling unwell?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness." Lavoisier shook his head with a smile, "I'm fine, you see, it's very strong!

“I had to take a break from my work at the Royal Gunpowder Bureau only because I needed to concentrate on the paper at hand.”

Joseph asked curiously: "Oh? What masterpiece are you writing?"

"Oh, I named it "Basic Discourses on Chemistry."" Lavoisier said, showing a proud look. "This is the summary of all my ideas about chemistry. I believe it will definitely bring new life to the world of chemistry." of!"

Joseph was shocked. No wonder Lavoisier could take such a long leave. It turned out that the foundation work of modern chemistry was about to be released.

"Essential Essays on Chemistry" was later rated as one of the "Three Great Masterpieces" of the world's natural sciences, together with Newton's "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" and Darwin's "On the Origin of Species".

Joseph was moved to the sofa by Lavoisier, sat down on the sofa that the hostess had tidied three times, and said to Lavoisier:

"Please take a seat, please."

He thought about the main purpose of his trip and said with some hesitation: "Mr. Lavoisier, although it may affect your research, there is something that only you can help with now."

"Oh, please feel free to ask, Your Highness, it is my honor."

"I need the Gunpowder Bureau to trial-produce mercury fulminate as soon as possible, but they said that without you presiding over the test, they might not be able to produce the finished product until four months later."

Lavoisier nodded slightly:

"Are you talking about the kind of explosive that is easy to explode on impact? I have seen it in British papers. It should be made of mercury and nitric acid. I guess it should be crystallized to get a purer final product. , and a catalyst may also be used.”

Joseph praised it in his heart. He was worthy of being an academic master. He only looked at the public papers and estimated the preparation process.

Lavoisier continued:

"Clovis and the others may not be very good at such delicate experimental operations. Your Highness, I can help you trial-produce mercury fulminate, but I can only go to the Gunpowder Bureau two days a week."

Joseph thought that even two days would do, and he could not delay the publication of "Basic Treatise on Chemistry".

He asked: "How long do you estimate it will take to complete the experiment?"

"One month." Lavoisier looked at his wife beside him with soft eyes, "If Mariana is willing to help [Note 1]."

[Note 1] Madame Lavoisier’s name should be “Marie-Anne”. For the convenience of reading, the connector is omitted in the text.