Nitrogen was discovered by chemist and physician Daniel Rutherford in 1772.
Discovery Details
- Daniel Rutherford's Experiment: Rutherford conducted experiments where he removed oxygen and carbon dioxide from the air.
- Residual Gas: The gas that remained after removing oxygen and carbon dioxide did not support combustion or living organisms. This residual gas was nitrogen.
- Significance: Rutherford's work was crucial in identifying nitrogen as a distinct element.
Key Points About Nitrogen
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Discovered By | Daniel Rutherford |
Year Discovered | 1772 |
Key Property | Does not support combustion or living organisms |
Method | Removed oxygen and carbon dioxide from air and studied the remaining gas. |
Summary
In summary, Daniel Rutherford is credited with the discovery of nitrogen in 1772 through his experiments on air composition.