Priestley Identifies Nitrous Oxide
1772
Joseph Priestley, the Unitarian minister and radical, began systematically isolating gases in his Leeds home laboratory. This year he described 'diminished nitrous air' - nitrous oxide, soon famous as laughing gas. In three more years he would discover oxygen too. Chemistry was still called 'pneumatic' and still made of prayers and soda.
In context
Also in 1772 (4 other events on record)
- First Partition of Poland · Europe · Politics
- Somerset Case in English Courts · Europe · Politics
- Gaspee Affair · North America · Politics
- Daniel Boone Crosses Cumberland Gap · North America · Exploration
Before and after in Europe
Before and after in Science
Era
Enlightenment (1651–1800), one of 696 events from that era on Saeculum.