Gay-Lussac, Joseph Louis (Gay-Lussac Joseph Louis)

(1778-1850)
Born Dec. 6, 1778 in Saint-LцLonard-de-Noble (Department of Haute-Vienne). In 1800 he graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and became assistant to Berthollet K.. Since 1809 - professor of chemistry at the Ecole Polytechnique and professor of physics at the Sorbonne in 1832 - professor of chemistry at the Paris botanical garden. In 1802, regardless of Dzh.Daltona Gay-Lussac discovered one of the gas laws - the law of thermal expansion of gases, later named after him. In 1804, made two flights in a balloon (rising to a height of 4 and 7 km), during which fulfilled a number of scientific studies, in particular measured temperature and humidity. In 1805, together with the Humboldt determine the composition of water, showing that the ratio of hydrogen and oxygen in its molecule is 2:1. In 1808 Gay-Lussac, discovered the law of three-dimensional relations, which was presented at the meeting of Philosophical-Mathematical Society: 'The interaction of gas volumes and volumes of gaseous products are correlated as primes'. In 1809, held a series of experiments with chlorine, confirmed the withdrawal of G. Davey, that chlorine - is an element, rather than oxygen-containing compounds. In 1810 established the elementary nature of potassium and sodium, then the phosphorus and sulfur. In 1811 began a thorough investigation of prussic acid, which led him to the concept of hydrogen acids denying pure oxygen theory of Lavoisier.
Gay-Lussac worked in many public commissions and was commissioned by the Government reports with recommendations for the implementation of scientific achievements in the industry. Applied significance were many of his research. Thus, his method of determining the content of ethyl alcohol was used as a basis for practical ways to determine the strength of alcoholic drinks. In 1830 it was first held gigrometricheskie determination of silver in alloys by the method developed by Gay-Lussac. Established construction of the tower to capture the nitrogen oxides in the future has found application in the manufacture of sulfuric acid.

In 1806 Gay-Lussac was elected a member of the French Academy of Sciences, was a member of Arkeyskogo Scientific Society (Societe d'Archueil), based Berthollet. In 1839 he received a peerage of France. Died Gay-Lussac in Paris on May 9, 1850.