6th December 1799

Man who ‘discovered’ carbon dioxide dies

Chemist Joseph Black discovered what he initially called ‘fixed air’, but we now know as carbon dioxide. Although he can’t have initially known what it was, he noted that the gas, which he produced using limestone, didn’t support life, and didn’t burn. Other discoveries he made during his lifetime significantly contributed to the field of thermodynamics.

 

 

Other events that occured in December