Chemist and physicist — Humphry Davy (Penzance, 1778 – Geneva, 1829) was a British chemist and physicist, among the most celebrated scientists of his time and a leading figure at the Royal Institution in London. Of modest origins and largely self-taught, he made his name through studies of gases and became a brilliant lecturer capable of drawing crowds. He was a pioneer of electrochemistry: using Volta’s pile for electrolysis, he was the first to isolate several chemical elements, including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and barium. He invented the miner’s safety lamp (the Davy lamp), which reduced the risk of firedamp explosions in coal mines, saving countless lives. His most lasting contribution to science was perhaps taking on the young Michael Faraday as an assistant, who was destined to become one of the greatest experimental physicists.
Trivia
As a young man he experimented on himself with the effects of nitrous oxide, “laughing gas”, sensing its possible use as an anaesthetic and even organising public demonstrations.
Theories and contributions
- Electrolysis and discovery of elements — Use of electric current to break down compounds, isolating sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and barium.
- Safety lamp (Davy lamp) — Miner’s lamp with a metal gauze that dissipates heat and prevents the ignition of firedamp.
Present in chapters
Linked atoms
1 linked atoms.