Boyle Robert Boyle Robert

(Boyle) (1627-1691), English chemist and physicist, one of the founders of the Royal Society of London. Formulated (1661) the first scientific definition chemical element, introduced the experimental method into chemistry, laid the foundation for chemical analysis. Contributed to the development of chemistry as a science. Established (1662) one of the gas laws (Boyle-Mariotte law).

BOYLE (Boyle) Robert (1627-91), English chemist and physicist, one of the founders of the Royal Society of London. Formulated (1661) the first scientific definition of a chemical element, introduced the experimental method into chemistry, and laid the foundation for chemical analysis. Contributed to the development of chemistry as a science. Established (1662) one of the gas laws (Boyle-Mariotte law).
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Robert Boyle (January 25, 1627, Lismore, County Waterford, Ireland - December 30, 1691, London), English physicist, chemist and philosopher, member of the Royal Society of London (cm. ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON) since 1663.
Travels of youth
Born into the old aristocratic family of Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork. The first years of the child's life were not very happy. When he was three years old, he lost his mother and was frail and sickly. According to the tradition that existed in aristocratic families at that time, when Robert turned 8 years old, he was sent to Eton College, one of the prestigious closed educational institutions England. But three years later his father took him away from there to send him to continue his studies in Europe, in Switzerland. In Geneva, Robert studied mathematics, philosophy and law for two years. Then they took a long trip around Europe, in particular in Italy, where the young man enthusiastically became acquainted with works of art.
Own laboratory. Boyle's Law
At the age of 17, Boyle returned to England. Having lost his father by this time and becoming an orphan, he settles with his sister, but soon moves to the Stalbridge estate he inherited in Dorsetshire. He lived there for eight years and, apparently, there he began experimenting, although he did not publish a single work over the years.
In 1654, a new period began in Boyle's life. He moved to Oxford, one of the recognized centers of science at that time. Being a wealthy man, Boyle equipped the laboratory and, together with his assistant, young Robert Hooke (cm. GUK Robert), a future famous scientist and member of the Royal Society, began experiments in 1655. Until 1668 Boyle remained director and scientific supervisor this laboratory
The book, the result of this work, which appeared in 1660, immediately became a classic. It described the air pump invented by Boyle and which made it possible to carry out numerous experiments, and one of the main results, included in physics under the name of Boyle's law - the conclusion that the pressure of a constant mass of gas at a constant temperature is inversely proportional to the volume it occupies. This law is also known as the Boyle-Marriott Law. (cm. BOYLE-MARIOTTE LAW)", but Edm Marriott (cm. MARIOTTE Edm) It was established only in 1676, and published in 1679.
After 1660, Boyle's interests increasingly shifted towards chemistry.
Contribution to the development of chemical science
The research of the great scientist laid the foundation for the birth of a new chemical science. Boyle believed that chemistry was destined to become one of the fundamental sciences in philosophy. If for his contemporaries chemistry was only an art that helped pharmacists prepare medicines and alchemists search for the philosopher's stone (cm. ELIXIR), then for Boyle it was an independent science with its own tasks and methods. He perfectly understood the enormous importance of chemical knowledge for the study of natural phenomena and the development of crafts.
Boyle was an excellent experimenter and a tireless observer, which allowed him to make discoveries in various areas of chemistry. His range of interests was very wide.
While studying extracts of various plants, he noticed that infusions of violets, litmus lichen, etc. change their color under the influence of acids and alkalis. Even then, Boyle called these substances indicators (cm. CHEMICAL INDICATORS). To this day, modern chemists use indicator paper invented by Boyle to determine the acidity of solutions.
When examining an infusion of tanning nut in water, Boyle discovered that with iron salts it formed a black solution that could be used as ink. Using the recipes he developed, high-quality black ink was produced for almost a century.
His many years of research showed that when substances were exposed to various reagents, some of them gave colored solutions, others released gases with characteristic odors, and others formed colored precipitates. Boyle called the processes of decomposition of substances and the identification of the resulting products using characteristic reactions analysis.
By systematizing numerous color and precipitation reactions, Boyle initiated the development analytical chemistry (cm. ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY). Many of the reactions he described are still used in qualitative analysis today. (cm. QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS) to determine a particular substance.
Throughout almost his entire scientific career, Boyle's attention was fascinated by the combustion process. The scientist discovered that when firing metals, the ash was always heavier than the metal taken. Boyle made a number of discoveries, but was never able to give a correct explanation of combustion, since, like many scientists of that time, he believed that fire contained a special element “caloric (cm. CAROPHIC)" He proved that only part of the air is consumed during breathing and combustion.
Boyle studied phosphorus (cm. PHOSPHORUS). He was the first to synthesize phosphoric acid, phosphine gas (cm. PHOSPHINE) and described their properties. Developing better methods for obtaining phosphorus, in 1680 he obtained white phosphorus, which for a long time was called Boyle's phosphorus.
Boyle made an enormous contribution to the development theoretical foundations chemical science. He made an attempt to systematize chemical substances and divide them into groups according to their properties.
In the book “The Skeptical Chemist” (1661), he developed his ideas about chemical elements and outlined the foundations of the corpuscular theory of the structure of matter as applied to chemistry. Boyle criticized the teachings of Aristotle and the alchemists and tried to explain the transformations chemical substances based on atomistic concepts. Boyle considered elements to be simple bodies that cannot be obtained from other bodies.
Many of his students and assistants later became famous scientists: Wilhelm (Guillaume) Gomberg, Richard Townley, Johann Becher (cm. BECHER Johann Joachim) and etc.
Boyle introduced scales into laboratory practice, albeit of low accuracy (from 1 to 0.5 grains, i.e. 60-30 mg) and developed a weighing method.
Royal Society, recognition of the scientific world
In 1665, Boyle was elected an honorary doctor of physics at the University of Oxford, and 3 years later - a member of the Royal Society.
Even at Oxford, Boyle paid a lot of attention to the organization of the “Philosophical College”, where scientists communicated, where they made reports and discussed them. In London, he took an active part in using the experience of this “collegium” in the Royal Society and even in 1680 was elected its president, but refused this honor.
Boyle published the results of his work in more than two dozen books and numerous articles. His works became famous in many scientific centers in Europe. All of Boyle's books are written in English, thereby destroying the tradition of publishing scientific books in Latin.

encyclopedic Dictionary . 2009 .

See what "Robert Boyle" is in other dictionaries:

- (Boyle, Robert) (1627 1691), English chemist and physicist. Born January 25, 1627 at Lismore Castle (Ireland). In 1635, at the age of 8, he entered Eton. In 1638, together with his mentor, he went on a trip to European countries, studied in Florence and ... Collier's Encyclopedia

Robert Boyle Robert Boyle ... Wikipedia

Boyle Robert (25.1.1627, Lismore, Ireland, 31.12.1691, London), English chemist and physicist. Studied at Eton. At first he was engaged in religious and philosophical issues, then (from 1654), having moved to Oxford, he took part in the work of scientific... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Boyle, Robert- Robert Boyle (1627 91), English chemist and physicist, one of the founders of the Royal Society of London. Formulated (1661) the first scientific definition of a chemical element, developed the atomic theory, laid the foundation for the chemical... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Boyle) physicist, chemist and theologian, 1627 91, seventh son of Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, a nobleman in the time of Elizabeth of England. He received his initial education and training at home and at Eton College, and in his twelfth year he was sent by his father to Geneva... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

"Boyle" redirects here. For namesakes, see Boyle. Robert Boyle (English Robert Boyle, Irish Robaird Ó Bhaoill; January 25, 1627 December 30, 1691) physicist, chemist and theologian, seventh son of Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, nobleman of the times ... ... Wikipedia

Robert Boyle Request "Boyle" redirects here. For namesakes, see Boyle. Robert Boyle (English Robert Boyle, Irish Robaird Ó Bhaoill; January 25, 1627 December 30, 1691) physicist, chemist and theologian, seventh son of Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, ... ... Wikipedia

Robert Boyle(Robert Boyle) (25.1.1627, Lismore, Ireland - 31.12.1691, London), English chemist and physicist. Studied at Eton. At first he was engaged in religious and philosophical issues, then (from 1654), having moved to Oxford, he took part in the work of the scientific society (nicknamed the “invisible board”, since it met either in Oxford or in London) and turned to research in the field of chemistry and physics. In 1665 he received an honorary doctorate in physics from Oxford University. In 1668 he settled in London, where in 1680 he was elected president of the Royal Society (organized in 1663 on the basis of an “invisible college”), but refused this position.

In The Skeptical Chemist (published anonymously in 1661), Boyle argued that chemistry should become a science in its own right, rather than trying to turn base metals into gold or finding ways to make medicine. He rejects both the doctrine of the four elements (fire, air, water and earth), and the doctrine of Paracelsus about the three principles (sulphur, mercury and salt), from which all natural bodies supposedly consist. Robert Boyle considered elements to be simple bodies that cannot be prepared from other bodies.

In his experimental studies, Boyle widely used both qualitative and quantitative methods. So, examining the composition mineral waters(1684-1685), he used a decoction of ink nuts to discover iron, ammonia to discover copper, vegetable dyes to establish an acidic or alkaline reaction, noted the taste of waters and measured their density. Describing the properties of phosphorus (obtained by Boyle in 1680 independently of other chemists), Boyle indicated its color, smell, density, ability to glow, and its relationship to solvents. Boyle often used scales, although of little accuracy (from 1 to 0.5 grains, i.e. from 60 to 30 mg). His experiments in burning metals in sealed vessels (published in 1673) are especially famous. Boyle weighed the retorts with metal before firing; After burning, he weighed again, having first broken off the sealed neck. In this case, there was always an increase in weight, which Boyle erroneously explained by saying that “corpuscles of fire” penetrate the glass and are absorbed by the metal. In 1756 M.V. Lomonosov showed that the weight of the vessel in which the metal is sealed does not change after firing and remains constant. In 1774 A.L. Lavoisier confirmed this conclusion and, moreover, proved that metals, when fired, combine with oxygen in the air and therefore an increase in weight occurs.

Robert Boyle had just begun transforming chemistry into a science. This process was completed in the 2nd half of the 18th - early 19th centuries thanks to the works of Lomonosov, Lavoisier and Dalton. Nevertheless, the historical merits of Boyle, who formulated the first scientific definition of the concept of a chemical element, introduced the experimental method into chemistry, laid the foundation for wet chemical analysis and recognized chemistry as an independent science, are completely undoubted.

Boyle owns fundamental works in physics. In 1662, Boyle, together with R. Townley, established the dependence of the volume of the same mass of air on pressure at a constant temperature (Boyle-Mariotte law).

Boyle's worldview is complex and contradictory. Being a supporter of atomism P. Gassendi based on the teachings Epicurus Boyle, however, was afraid to undermine the tenets of religion with this teaching. Defending the principles of mechanism, he denied the objective existence of qualitative differences and reduced the entire variety of phenomena to differences in number, spatial grouping and to the mechanical movement of primary non-quality corpuscles (atoms), differing only in size and shape. In explaining the properties of things, Boyle relied on the concept of primary and secondary qualities put forward by J. Locke. Boyle outlined his mechanistic worldview in his essay “The Origin of Forms and Qualities according to Corpuscular Philosophy” (1666). Discovering the inconsistency of mechanistic materialism, its inability to find in matter itself the source of all its changes in nature, Boyle tried to find a way out in a religious worldview.

Robert Boyle

25.01.1627 - 30.12.1691

Summer is the favorite time of all schoolchildren and students. Lessons, tests, exams are behind us... Children go on vacation, teachers go on vacation. By God's grace, today in a once atheistic country where believers were not given the opportunity to receive higher education, our Christian youth are among the best students of the most prestigious universities Ukraine; works as teachers of music, Ukrainian language and literature, biology, chemistry... also being the best in their specialty. I am not bragging, but simply thanking God for His mercy towards His children. But, excuse me, I moved away from the topic of schoolchildren. Everyone has their own more or less favorite items. But what exactly unites all schoolchildren is an interest in history, which cannot be said in favor of chemistry. The question “Who invented this chemistry?” familiar? Think back to your school days, your class, especially in high school. I think I've convinced you.

“In comparison with the Bible, all human books are small planets that receive their light and brilliance from the Sun.”

“Nowhere can a true natural scientist penetrate into the knowledge of the mystery of creation without receiving the finger of God.”

Robert Boyle

All schoolchildren at all times are answered briefly and clearly: Robert Boyle - an English chemist, physicist and philosopher - formulated the first scientific definition of a chemical element (1661), introduced an experimental method into chemistry, laid the foundation for chemical analysis, contributed to the establishment of chemistry as a science, established one of gas laws (Boyle-Mariotte law, 1662), and this list of his discoveries can be continued for a very long time. And even if you were told even more about his scientific activities, I am more than sure: no one told you that Robert Boyle was a deeply religious man. Taking advantage of the opportunity given to me by the editors of the newspaper, I wanted to introduce the reader more closely to the “father” of modern chemistry. Along with his scientific achievements, very little is written about his Christian life, so I would like to consider several interesting points.

“The perfection of the systems existing in the world, especially the amazing properties and abilities of animals, their amazing structure, has been the reason for centuries that thinkers have recognized the existence of a Creator.”

“Looking through a powerful telescope at stars and planets that have been discovered long ago and recently, studying through a wonderful microscope the bizarre works of nature, made with inimitable skill; comprehending the book of nature with the help of an anatomical knife and by the light of chemical furnaces, I often have no choice but to exclaim with the psalmist: “How numerous are Your works, O Lord! You have done everything wisely.”

These words belong to the great English scientist Robert Boyle, the founder of the amazing science of chemistry, and eloquently indicate that their author was a Christian.

Childhood and adolescence, scientific activity

Robert Boyle belonged to an old aristocratic family. His ancestors occupied a prominent place among the privileged nobility, and his father, Richard Boyle, bore the title of Earl of Cork and was close to the court of Elizabeth of England. He was not only noble, but also quite rich. Robert's mother, Catherine Fenton, was already the second wife of Richard Boyle. His first wife died shortly after the birth of their first child. Robert Boyle was the youngest, fourteenth, child in the Boyle family and the seventh, beloved son of Richard Boyle. When Robert was born, his father was already 60 years old and his mother 40. Robert Boyle was born on January 25, 1627 in Lismore Castle (County Waterford, Ireland). The family was Protestant by religion.

The first years of the child's life were not very happy. When he was three years old, Robert lost his mother and was frail and sickly. Since childhood, he was tormented by kidney stones, which largely determined his lifestyle. He followed a strict diet all his life. Belonging to an aristocratic family did not prevent Robert, as a child, from keeping company with children from the common people and having friends among them. He even tried to imitate one of them, copying his stutter. This became such a habit that he subsequently had to undergo treatment for an “illness” acquired in childhood, but, as he himself wrote in his autobiography, this treatment was “as diligent as it was unsuccessful.”

According to the tradition that existed in aristocratic families at that time, when Robert turned 8 years old, he was sent to Eton College, one of the prestigious private educational institutions in England. But three years later his father took him away from there to send him to continue his studies in Switzerland. In Geneva, he intensively studied mathematics, French and Latin languages, rhetoric and theology. Then he undertook a long trip around Europe, in particular Italy, where he enthusiastically became acquainted with works of art.

Seventeen-year-old Robert Boyle returns to England. Having lost his father by this time and becoming an orphan, he settles with his sister, but soon moves to the Stalbridge estate he inherited in Dorsetshire. He lived there for ten years, doing research in the field natural sciences, devoting at the same time a lot of time to religious and philosophical issues.

The only, but very fruitful contact with the world of science. Boyle at this time was actively involved in the activities of the scientific society "Invisible College". This community of like-minded scientists was formed around 1645 and united such famous scientists as, for example, Bishop John Wilkins, philosopher Joseph Glanville, mathematician John Wallis, inventor and “microscopist” Robert Hooke, architect Christopher Wren and many others. Members of the society corresponded extensively and met frequently to discuss scientific problems in London and Oxford.

In 1654, Robert Boyle moved to Oxford, where he equipped a laboratory and, with the help of specially invited assistants, conducted experiments in chemistry and physics. One of these assistants was Robert Hooke (1635-1703). Until 1668, Robert Boyle remained the director and scientific director of this laboratory.

Robert Boyle was a resident of Oxford University for almost 12 years (1656-1668), he never received any university degree or diploma, although, of course, during these years he received more than a fundamental education. An M.D. (Oxford, 1665) was his only diploma.

The activities of the scientific society "Invisible College", London and Oxford groups of like-minded scientists became the foundation for the creation in 1660 of a larger scientific society uniting all the most influential scientists in England. It can be said that Robert Boyle played one of the most active and key roles in this important event for science. It was he who initiated the creation of problem-solving scientific teams, which in our time are called “research groups.” In fact, the world's first Academy of Sciences was created. And it was created by CHRISTIANS! (all its founders are deeply religious people). The official date of the creation of the new society is considered to be November 28, 1660, when 12 scientists from the above-mentioned scientific communities gathered in London to listen to another lecture by Christopher Wren. Among them were Robert Boyle, John Wilkins, Robert Moray, William Viscount Brounker and others. After the end of the lecture, inspired scientists decided to create a scientific society “College for the Promoting of Physico-Mathematical Experimentall Learning”. Curator scientific research Robert Hooke was elected.

In 1662, by decree of King Charles II, a great lover of chemistry and other sciences, this society was transformed into the Royal Society of London with the right to annual funding from the royal treasury. The first president of the society from 1662 to 1677 was William Viscount Brounker.

Boyle also gained fame for his views on the structure of matter. His works “The Skeptical Chemist” (1661) and “The Origin of Forms and Properties according to Corpuscular Philosophy” (1666) brought him considerable fame. In 1664 he published Essays and Reflections on Flowers.

Boyle published the results of his work in more than two dozen books and numerous articles. His works became famous in many scientific centers in Europe. All of Robert Boyle's books are written in English, thereby breaking the tradition of publishing scientific books in Latin.

Robert Boyle entered the history of science not only as the author of fundamental discoveries, but also as the world's first organizer of science. His theory of the corpuscular structure of substances was a step forward in the development of atomic-molecular theory. The research of the great scientist laid the foundation for the birth of a new chemical science. He singled out chemistry as an independent science and showed that it has its own problems, its own tasks, which must be solved by its own methods, different from medicine. By systematizing numerous color and precipitation reactions, Boyle laid the foundation for analytical chemistry. He made an attempt to systematize chemical substances, divide them into groups according to their properties; introduced scales into laboratory practice, albeit of low accuracy (from 1 to 0.5 grains, i.e. 60-30 mg) and developed a weighing method; extracted substances that he called indicators (to this day, modern chemists use indicator paper invented by Boyle to determine the acidity of solutions); using the recipes he developed, high-quality black ink was produced for almost a century; first synthesized phosphoric acid and phosphine gas and described their properties; later, in 1680, he obtained white phosphorus, which for a long time was called Boyle's phosphorus. In 1660, Boyle improved Guericke's air pump and used it to conduct a series of experiments: he demonstrated the elasticity of air, determined its specific gravity, introduced the term “vacuum,” etc. In 1662 he discovered the law of changes in air volume with changes in pressure, which was independently established in 1676 by E. Mariotte (Boyle-Mariotte law). It was Boyle who first used the term “barometer” in relation to a device for measuring atmospheric pressure. For the first time in the history of science, he showed that when pressure drops, water can boil while remaining slightly warm, and he was the first to describe the expansion of bodies when heated and cooled. Boyle criticized the teachings of Aristotle and the alchemists and tried to explain the transformations of chemical substances on the basis of atomistic concepts.

Many of his students and assistants later became famous scientists: Wilhelm (Guillaume) Gomberg, Richard Townley, Johann Becher and others.

Robert Boyle by that time was at the zenith of his fame. He was often invited to the palace, because the mighty of the world They considered it an honor to talk for at least a few minutes with the “luminary of English science.” He was universally honored and even offered to become a member of the Royal Mines Company. The following year he was appointed director of the East India Company (English East India Company - Joint-Stock Company, created on December 31, 1600 by decree of Elizabeth I and received extensive privileges for trading operations in India).

In 1668, Boyle received an honorary doctorate in physics from Oxford University and in the same year moved to London, where he continued his scientific work. In 1680, Robert Boyle was elected as the next president of the Royal Society of London, but he declined the honor because the required oath would violate his Christian principles. Boyle supervised the work of the presidents of this scientific organization from 1680 until his death. During his lifetime the Royal Society was recognized scientific center, around which the largest scientists of that time: J. Locke, I. Newton, D. Wallace. The Royal Society of London still exists today, being the oldest of all active scientific societies in the world.

Boyle's Oxford period of life is associated with his remarkable discoveries in the fields of chemistry and physics. Robert Boyle's authority in scientific circles was very great, but he was always distinguished by modesty. Boyle urged scientists who assert something categorically to make a clear distinction between what they know for sure and what they assume.

IN scientific works Boyle sought to prove the greatness and wisdom of the Creator. He often emphasized that science should be inseparable from faith in God. He also argued that the perfection of living organisms is clear evidence of the existence of God. What he learned about the Universe and the amazing structure of living organisms convinced him even more of the existence of a Creator. That is why he rejected atheism, which was becoming increasingly popular among the intelligentsia of his day. Boyle believed that every thinking and honest person cannot help but believe in God.

The second side of Boyle's activity was related to literature. He had a good style and wrote several poems and a treatise on moral topics, was an expert in Hebrew and ancient Greek languages. He was a true Renaissance man who knew everything there was to know about everything.

Robert Boyle lived his entire life single and never married.

Christian activities

Boyle's main goal in life was to serve God. He never uttered the word “God” without a reverent pause. Unlike his father, Boyle had rare modesty, kindness, avoided personal conflicts and even shied away from scientific polemics. He was a tall, thin man, pale and emaciated towards the end of his life. He led a simple life, was disciplined, noble and extremely courteous. It should be noted that Robert Boyle studied theology all his life, and very seriously and enthusiastically. A third of all his works are devoted to theology.

He participated in annual readings dedicated to Christianity's struggle with atheism (the notion that atheism is a modern invention is a myth) and indifferentism (indifferentists are those who say, “I don’t care whether God exists or not”). Boyle, the first modern chemist, was a friend of Richard Baxter, one of the three greatest Puritan theologians.

Robert Boyle was not only a gifted, but at the same time a humble man, driven by an insatiable desire to reach the truth in everything and to help others in this. He was troubled by the fact that many were not familiar with the teachings of the Bible and therefore did not have a firm basis for their faith. He wondered how people's religious beliefs could be determined solely by what their parents believed or where they were born. Boyle developed a great desire to help others understand the Bible better.

To this end, Boyle provided funds so that the Bible could be published in many languages, including Arabic, Irish, Malay, Turkish, and some indigenous languages ​​of North America. He also directed a corporation to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in New England.

Robert Boyle knew that as early as 1573 a group of scholars had begun to translate some books of the Bible into Irish. In 1602, these scholars published a portion of the Bible known as New Testament. Later, by 1640, the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the Old Testament, were translated into Irish. However, it was published only in 1685, after Boyle sponsored the project. It is noteworthy that in Irish there was also a translation of the Apocrypha, which is a collection of non-canonical writings, often published along with the Bible. But Boyle, as a champion of truth, refused to publish these dubious books.

In 1661-1677, he headed the famous East India Company and in this post was most concerned about the activities of missionaries in the colonies. In 1690, he outlined his theological views in The Christian Virtuoso, in which he wrote that the study of nature was his main religious duty.

Robert Boyle, Isaac Newton and the rest of the Royal Society were Christians who rejected the skeptical doctrines of the atheist Thomas Hobbes. They sought to convey to their compatriots the idea that the Universe is natural and that there are scientific methods for exploring the truth. They were convinced that the study of creation would never lead to conclusions inconsistent with biblical history, as many scientific studies now agree with.

Death

Robert Boyle died in London on December 30, 1691 and was buried in Westminster Abbey - the burial place outstanding people England. Dying, Boyle bequeathed that all his capital be used for the development of science in England and for the continuation of the activities of the Royal Society. In addition, he provided special funds to finance annual readings on God and religion, the famous Boyle Lectures, the first of which took place in 1692. The purpose of Boyle's lectures was to defend the Christian religion from “notorious infidels, namely atheists, deists, pagans,” etc.

This was the reason for the subsequent appearance of theological treatises by Clerk, Bentley, Derham and others. Boyle himself wrote about the harmonization of reason with religion, about the Christian naturalist, etc.

The Boyle Lectures continued regularly until 1905. Since 2004, they have been resumed in London, in the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow. They take place annually in February.

The activities of Robert Boyle left a bright mark not only on the development of science (chemistry, physics, etc.), but also on the spread of Christianity in many countries. Although incredibly educated, rich and famous, Robert Boyle remained a sincere Christian. And in our time, many scientists recognize the greatness and power of the Creator, and for them He is a personal Savior. And who do you recognize Him as, dear reader?

Prepared by Ekaterina KIRICHYOK

Robert Hooke (July 28, 1635, Isle of Wight - March 3, 1703, London) - English encyclopedist and naturalist. He is the author of many inventions, discoveries and improvements.

Life path

Robert's father prepared him for a spiritual career, but due to poor health, the young man began to study watchmaking. Robert showed increasing interest in scientific studies, so he soon began studying at Westminster School. Here he studied ancient Greek, Latin, Hebrew and mathematics. In addition, already at that time he showed a talent for inventions in mechanics and physics. What happened next in his life?

1653 - begins studying at Oxford University. Here Hooke becomes Robert Boyle's assistant.

1662 - became curator of experiments at the Royal Society of London.

1663 - becomes a member of the aforementioned Royal Society.

1664 - became professor of geometry at the University of London.

1665 – publishes Micrographia, describing microscopic and telescopic observations. Several important biological discoveries were published here.

1677-1683 - was secretary of the Royal Society.

Discoveries

The list of Robert Hooke's discoveries includes:

• the discovery of proportionality between elastic stretching, bending and compression, and the stresses that produce them;
• discovery of thin film colors;
• correct definition of the law of universal gravitation;
• the idea of ​​the wave-like propagation of light;
• assumption about the transverse nature of light waves;
• demonstrating that the pitch of sound is determined by the frequency of vibration;
• discovery of the constancy of the boiling point of water and the melting of ice;
• discovery of a living cell (Hooke owns the term “cell”);
• discovery of the female egg and male sperm;
• justification for the rotation of the Earth around the Sun.

Inventions

1656-1658 - invention of a spiral spring to regulate the speed of watches.

1666 – invention of the spirit level. In the same year, Robert Hooke presented to the Royal Society the model of helical gears he had invented.

1684 - invented the optical telegraph system.

Hooke improved:

• barometer;
• telescope;
• hygrometer;
• recording rain gauge;
• anemometer.

Hooke was the main assistant to K. Wren during the restoration of London after the fire of 1666. As an architect, he participated in the construction of such buildings as the Greenwich Observatory and London's St. Pavel. Also, R. Hooke proposed a new layout of London streets.

As a child, Hooke was often sick. Some doctors claimed that he would not live to see 20 years of age. As a result, the inventor lived for 68 years.

It was Hooke who named elementary unit living organism "cell" (English cell). Interestingly, the scientist believed that this particle was similar to the cells of monks.

The inventor was interested in the science of breathing. Once he even placed himself in a special sealed apparatus, from which the air was gradually pumped out. As a result, Hooke partially lost his hearing.

Boyle Robert is a scientist who was many centuries ahead of his time. He was not only a physicist, but also studied chemistry and even theology. Today it seems that these are incompatible activities. But for the 17th century, in which Boyle lived and worked, this was normal.

Robert Boyle: biography of the early period

The scientist was born into a noble, wealthy family, but he could not be the heir to his father’s property, being the seventh son. The father, however, loved the child and did everything to provide him with a good education. Robert Boyle, whose biography is full of similar events, went to study at Eton University. There he studied natural science and medicine. The choice of direction was not accidental - at that time it practically guaranteed a decent position in the future. After graduating from university, he returned to one of his father's estates. Boyle Robert traveled a lot. At the age of 12, he and his brother set off on a journey through Europe, which lasted 6 years. The scientist returned only after learning about his father's death.

Boyle Robert and his life in Oxford

Moving to Stalbridge, he led a quiet life for several years, studying theology and philosophy.

After some time, the scientist decides to go to Oxford to study chemistry and physics and further work on these areas. At Oxford he became a member of the "Invisible College", and it is thanks to him that the Royal Society of London appears. 20 years later, in 1680, Robert Boyle was even elected president of the society, but refused the honorary position. After 5 years, the scientist is awarded a doctorate in physics. Using the money he inherited, he opens a laboratory and collaborates with many from the 17th century.

Pioneering physicist

1660 is a turning point in the life of a scientist. At this time, he was studying the works of O. Guericke and wanted to repeat his experiments, which he soon did. He not only built an air pump, but also discovered one of the fundamental physical laws, according to which the change in the volume of a gaseous substance is inversely proportional to pressure.

That is, it was now possible to accurately calculate the volumes of gaseous substances. It is noteworthy that this same law was also discovered by Marriott, completely independently of Boyle. In modern physics it appears as the Boyle-Mariotte law. He was the man who substantiated experimental research methods not only in physics, but also in chemistry. Boyle did a large amount of work in the field of atomic theory. For him, experience was the criterion and indicator of truth, as it was for Bacon, to whose work Boyle referred.

One of the areas of work of Boyle the physicist is the creation of a perpetual motion machine. This idea occupied the minds of many scientists. According to Robert Boyle, it is real. - the best example. In his opinion, it is possible due to the action of capillary forces, which can be used to create perpetual motion. According to the scientist, if the length of the capillary is short, then the liquid rising along it will pour back into the vessel located below.

Skeptical chemist

Robert Boyle, whose contribution to chemistry also cannot be overestimated, published many related to this science. "The Skeptical Chemist" is the most famous of his works. In it, Boyle Robert successfully refutes the fundamental teaching of Aristotle and the doctrine of the “Three Principles” followed by the alchemists. They believed that everything in the world consists of mercury, sulfur and salt. Boyle proved that this is far from true. In his opinion, chemistry is a self-sufficient science. It is not limited to just attempts to turn metal into gold, but must study the properties of metals and be on guard of human health. Despite his outstanding discoveries, the scientist could not find peace of mind. He, as a believer, was embarrassed by the fact that he could not explain many of the phenomena that he encountered during experiments.

He was the first to use the concept of “analysis of the composition of bodies” and introduced it into chemical science. He studied the quantitative results of firing various metals, combustion, and so on. 1663 was the year of the first use of indicators in the history of science to determine alkalis and acids. Boyle also obtained phosphorus as a result of his independent experiments. The scientist described the properties of the new substance, pointing out its ability to glow, solubility, smell and color.

This was the beginning of analytical chemistry as a separate branch of chemical knowledge.

Theology as salvation for the soul

Boyle Robert believed that he was doing something wicked by conducting experiments and obtaining results that neither he nor the leading minds could explain. He hoped to find salvation in faith and save his soul. His desire was so strong that he taught himself Aramaic and Greek. Last will The scientist was to give all his acquired fortune to the development of science in Great Britain.