Robert Boyle Discovery

Robert Boyle was born in Ireland on 25 January 1627, he was a Great Anglo-Irish Philosopher. His work was well marked during the 17th century. He particularly belongs to the chemistry field but apart from chemistry, he works in the field of hydrostatics, medicine, physics, and earth sciences. His family was one of the richest in Britain. He is well renowned for his work in modern chemistry. He had a major contribution in the foundation of the royal society.

Robert Boyle

Early Years of Life

His family was considered as one of the richest families in Britain. At the tender age of eight years, he began his education at Eton college. Brother Frankies went on a great tour of the continent in 1639, his brother returned home while he pursued further studies in Geneva. In 1644, he returned to England, where he started his career in writing ethical and emotional tracks. 

From 1647 to 1650, he remained in touch with natural philosophers and social reformers. Robert was very influenced by Galileo and he decided to promote the idea of Galileo that earth and other planets revolve around the Sun.

Robert Boyle's Inventions and Discoveries

• He is generally famous for Boyle's law. Boyle's law states that at constant temperature, the volume of gas is inversely related with the pressure exerted on it.

• He also gave explanations to metal calcination and combustion.

• He put emphasis on chemical analysis and invented methods to measure purity and identify chemicals.

• You also discover a vacuum pump and after conducting experiments show that sound could not be transmitted in vacuum and candle could not burn.

• He shows that mathematical laws were followed by air.

Robert Boyle with his Vacuum Pump

Robert Boyle's Contribution to Chemistry

He is considered as the father of modern chemistry. He criticised Aristotelian and Paracelsian theories of philosophy. Boyle was able to chemically sublimate various substances from solid state to gas and vice versa without going through the liquid state. He tried to create a publicly accessible database of chemical analysis of every substance known at that time.

Boyle Law

Interest in Theology

He devoted a remarkable period of his time to theology. He strongly believes that the existence of God can be provided by the powerful evidence from natural philosophy. He also criticised some philosophers who denied to reveal much about God by the study of nature. In his lifelong career, he tried to show scientific support to Christianity.

Medicine

He was not a student of medicine but he had a deep interest in medicine. He never trusted the physician because when he was in Eton, a physician prescribed him wrong medicine due to which he became severely ill. He favoured mechanical theories and rejected Galen-based theories. He strongly believes that chemical remedies work better than Galenist. Oxford university gave him a doctorate of medicine degree Because of his respectable work in medicine.

Honours

• Name of the law called Boyle’s law was given in his honour.

• Robert Boyle prize for analytical science issued by Royal Society of Chemistry.

• To honour the heritage of Robert Boyle Waterford Institute organises Robert Boyle summer school. 

Solved Questions

1. Which society is founded by Robert Boyle?

Ans: Boyle was one of the Royal Society's original fellows. Through this Society, he disseminated his findings regarding the physical characteristics of air. He worked to develop chemistry as a mechanistic theory of matter-based mathematical science.

2. In Boyle's law, what quantity is constant?

Ans: Boyle noted that the relationship between pressure and volume is seen to be almost constant. For a perfect gas, the result of pressure and volume is a precise constant.

Summary

Apart from chemistry, he is interested in medicine, theology, Philosophy, and alchemy. He provides powerful evidence about God by study of nature; he was the founder of the Royal Society in the name given to Boyle's law in his honour.