M. Daumas
Rue St. Martin, Paris, France Translated by Gregory D. Seaman College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio
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The Lavoisier Collection at
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Arts et Mktiers
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the Con~rvatoireNational des
T h e chemistry section of the MusBe du Conservatoire National des Arts et M6tiers once provided an up-to-date view of the chemical industry. I t was established during the nineteenth century using models or patterns of apparatus principally from the mineral chemical industry and the gas lighting industry. The traditional industries, such as those producing starch, sugar, stearin, and brewery products, were also very well represented. Since 1900, gifts to this section of the museum have stopped, so that fewer original models have been used. The rapid evolution of the chemical industry which appeared a t the end of World War I has not been followed by a transformation of the chemistry section. Consequently this has taken on more and more a historical character. The addition of Lavoisier's apparatus about 40 years ago greatly increased the historical interest of the chemistry section. All of the laboratory equipment and all of his papers were turned over after the death of Mme. 1,avoisier to one of her nieces, Mme. de Chazelles. They nxre kept for a long time in a chateau near Clermont-Fcrrand. Leon de Chazelles gave some important items to the Academie de Sciences, along with all of t,he scientific papers and laboratory records. In 1866, the Academie likewise gave the Lavoisier apparat.us that it had housed to the Conservatoire National des Arts et MBtiers, along with numerous other instruments that had been received since the beginning of the nineteenth century and for which it no longer had room. This first gift was responsible for the dedication of a particular room in t,he museum to Lavoisier; it is called the Echo, a t the base of the stairs of honor. I t displays, among other things, the gasometers constructed by MBgni6 in 1787, two great lead tanks for handling gases, the original flask used for the synthesis of water, the two calorimeters, the apparatus for studying the composition of oils, alcoholic fermentation (see Fig. I), and putrid fermentation, which are described in the Trait4 Bldmenlaire de Chimie, as well as some ordinary balances, some barometers, and a collection of hydrometers. In 1952 Mme. Vanssay de Chazelles, who had inherited the Lavoisier apparatus, sold the collection to M. du Font de Nemours, who gave it to the French government. The latder has entrusted it to the care of the Conrjervatoire National des Arts et M6tiers. EDITOR'S NOTE: This is another in the series of papers being E. OESPERto give those of our readers solicited by Dr. RALPH who may he crossing the Atlantic a preview of places of notable scientific interest. Mr. Seaman, the translator, is 8. senior majoring in phyeics at the College oi Wooster. See also: J. C n ~ 0 l . E ~ n c .34, , 283, 6 0 i (1957) and 35, 300 (1958).
I a Figure 1 . Apporotur for vinous fermentation, constructed by Fortin in 1788. and described in the T r a i l &
The inventory of the collection contains nearly 400 items, which are distributed as follows: Ahout 20 items relate to balances, weighing instruments, weights, etc. Special attention should be drawn to the two precision balances by MBgni6 and the great precision balance by Fortin, which are described in Trait6 Bldmentaire de Chimie (see Fig. 2). There are also some ancient weights, based on an eight-ounce pound, that were divided into decimal fractions by Fourch6, balance-maker to the mint, commissioned by Lavoisier. Several balances are of the current type with two equal beams, and one of these must be the balance of Chemin that Lavoisier used in 1770 for his experiment proving that water cannot, be changed int,o earth by prolonged boiling. About 30 items relate to thermometers and calorim-
Figure 2. Large predgion balance conrtrusled b y Fortin in 1788. This bolonce war placed at the dirposol of the Commis3ion of Weights and Measurer which established the metric system.
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etry apparatus. The t,hermometers have been described a t leugth by Trucot in "Les Instruments de Lavoisier," Annals de Chimie et de Physique [5] 18, 289. Several are signed by Cappy and Mossy. The latter made two identical thermometers, one of which ~ 7 . adeposited ~ by Lavoisier in 1783 in the cellar of the Observatory of Paris, while the other is in the collection a t the Conservatoire. Several thermometers are made from preliminary sketches, with special vernier scales. The two most remarkable items in this category are the two calorimet,ers used by Lavoisier and Laplace in the winter of 1782-83 for their work on heat (see Fig. 3). One of them as modified a t the beginning of 1787 t o measure the heat of formation of water. It still includes the flask with three tubes in which the experiment 1v.s performed. Ten items relate t o barometers and hydrometers. Lavoisier mas interested in meterological observations throughout his life. He had some correspondents, particularly in eastern France, to whom he furnished some instruments. I n 1779 he had MBgniB construct eight barometers of a special type, several of which were distributed to his correspondents. Number two and four of this special series are in the Conservatoire. Eighty items relate t o glassware, containers, tubes, etc. Among these is the apparatus depicted on the table in the great David portrait of Lavoisier and his wife. (The portrait is now a t the Rockefeller Institute in New York.) The purpose of the apparatus has not yet been determined. The collection also includes two air-pumps, some mirrors aud lenses, some hydrostatic and electrical demonstfrationapparatus, a Ramsden type electrostatic machine, a Dellebarre type microscope, some lahoratory oil burners, and n great number of small personal objects used by Lavoisier in the laboratory: fire-lighting equipment, corrective lenses and spectacles, protective face masks for calcinations, spatulas, knives, wooden stands, etc.
Figure 3. Colarimeter used by Lwoitier and Loploce for their research On the left the calorimeter ir modifled for meoron heot from 1782-87. "ring the heot of formation of woter.
Many of the ohjects acquired in 1952 w r e not in good condition. It has been possible t,o restorr certain things, which are nor^ on display in the Echo room. A purchase and a more recent gift have brought, to t,he museum t ~ mahogany o tables that Lavoisier had made by the cabinetmaker Jacob for his three precision balances, his large laboratory table, and his great work desk with a cylinder bearing the signature. of the cabinetmaker Caumont. The Conservatoirc des Arts et MBtiers now possesses the whole of hvoieier's laboratory instruments and furniture still in existence. -4 descriptive catalogue of his collection is being prepared. Some of the great French chemists have been professors a t the Conservatoire, and their apparatus has been used by J. J. Schloesing (1824-1919) and his son, A. ThBophile Schloesing (185&1930), in their study of the composition of arable soils and the reactions which produce them. There is also some of J. B. Boussingault's apparatus for work on chemical agronomy.
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Journal of Chemical Education
