Joseph Black

Lore & Background

Black was born on the banks of the river Garonne in Bordeaux, France, the sixth of 12 children. He was educated at home until age 12, then attended grammar school in Belfast. His doctorate thesis was on treating kidney stones with magnesium carbonate. This theory of latent heat marks the beginning of thermodynamics and was important for the development of the steam engine.

Reader's Guide

Joseph Black's contributions fundamentally shaped modern chemistry and thermodynamics. His discovery of carbon dioxide, which he called 'fixed air,' advanced pneumatic chemistry and demonstrated that a gas could be chemically distinct from air. His development of the analytical balance provided a precise tool for quantitative experiments. Most significantly, his concepts of specific heat and latent heat clarified the distinction between heat and temperature, laying the groundwork for thermodynamics. His clear teaching and use of experiments popularized chemistry, and hundreds of students preserved his lectures in notebooks, disseminating his ideas widely. His legacy is commemorated by chemistry buildings named after him at both the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow.

Did You Know?

• He discovered that limestone heated or treated with acids yields a gas he called 'fixed air' (carbon dioxide), which is denser than air and does not support flame or animal life.
• Black's theory of latent heat marks the beginning of thermodynamics and was important for the development of the steam engine.