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Sir Humphry Davy
And
Michael Faraday
By: Jessica W.
Sir Humphry Davy
Humphry Davy, the son of a woodcarver, was born on December 17th, 1778, in Penzance, Cornwall, England. ... After his father’s death in 1794, Davy took it upon himself to support his family by becoming an apprentice to Penzance surgeon-apothecary, J Bingham Borlase. Davy was only 16 years old. Three years later in 1797, Davy read Antoine Lavoisier’s ite Elementaire and soon became interested in chemistry.
In 1797, shortly after reading Traite Elementaire, and after being released as apprentice to Borlase, Davy took up chemistry and soon became superintendent of the Medical Pneumatic Institution is Briston, as well as assistant to Thomas Beddoes. ... The institution was also where Davy made his first reputation for his work with gases and discovered the anesthetic effect of nitrous oxide (laughing gas). ...
Davy’s groundbreaking discoveries in the field of gases led him to become appointed as lecturer at the Royal Institution in London. ... In 1799, Davy published his researches in his book thusly titled Researches, Chemical, and Philosophical. ...
Davy’s next investigations, and perhaps most important, were devoted to electrochemistry. ... Like many other chemist, Davy began to experiment with electricity in 1800. ... Along with all of Davy’s discoveries, he was also awarded the Royal Institutions prestigious Copley Medal in 1805.
Davy’s first true successes came in 1807 with the separation of potassium from molten potash and sodium from common salt. Davy was also able to isolate pure metals using electrolysis and he eventually discovered the elements magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium in 1808.
Approximate Word count = 1228
Approximate Pages = 4.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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