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Pierre-Joseph Macquer
(9 Oct 1718 - 15 Feb 1784)
French chemist who wrote Dictionnaire de Chymie (1766), the first dictionary of theoretical and general chemistry. He extended Geoffroy’s concept of chemical affinity.
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Science Quotes by Pierre-Joseph Macquer (1 quote)
All the experiments which have been hitherto carried out, and those that are still being daily performed, concur in proving that between different bodies, whether principles or compounds, there is an agreement, relation, affinity or attraction (if you will have it so), which disposes certain bodies to unite with one another, while with others they are unable to contract any union: it is this effect, whatever be its cause, which will help us to give a reason for all the phenomena furnished by chemistry, and to tie them together.
— Pierre-Joseph Macquer
From Elemens de Chymie Theorique (1749). As quoted, in Trevor Harvey Levere, Affinity and Matter: Elements of Chemical Philosophy, 1800-1865 (1971), 17.
See also:
- 9 Oct - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Macquer's birth.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
