Joseph Black
Scottish physicist and chemist (1728-1799) · France · Scientists · Died at 71
Joseph Black is read about 97 times a day, in 57 languages.
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Something wrong?The man who gave science carbon dioxide, latent heat, and magnesium - three discoveries that cracked open how matter behaves when it changes state or burns.
A life in dates
Also in Deutsch
Photos 8
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Black Joseph (cropped)
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Chemistry, Theoretical, Practical, and Analytical, as Applied and Relating to the Arts and Manufactures, Vol. 1 - DPLA - 9a03764ef90a1d6b1ac84bb42fe226d4 (page 46)
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Ice calorimeter (cropped)
Ice-calorimeter
Joseph Black and James Hutton, natural philosophers, talking Wellcome V0006715In their own words 3
, Most Honrd Sir Your most affectionate letter of the 8th Aprill shews you in such a light as must warm the heart of a son with the highest degree of gratitude and affection.
In my last letter to you I proposed to go immediately to London to spend some time in the Hospitals there.
I have now studied the Theory of medicine & have likewise been taught every thing upon the Practice which can be learned in a College.
In their orbit
About this person
Joseph Black was born 16 April 1728 in Scotland and built his career between two cities. He taught anatomy and chemistry at the University of Glasgow for ten years starting in 1756, then moved to the University of Edinburgh in 1766 as professor of medicine and chemistry, holding the chair for more than three decades. His experimental work isolated magnesium, identified carbon dioxide as a distinct gas, and introduced the concepts of latent heat and specific heat - ideas that explained why ice melts at a constant temperature and why different materials warm at different rates. He died 6 December 1799, and both universities named their chemistry buildings after him.
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