MEN of SCIENCE III

http://epress.anu.edu.au

Paul Dirac

British mathematical physicist, co-winner with Erwin Schrodinger of the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics “for the discovery of new productive forms of atomic theory.” He was born in Bristol, England, on August 8, 1902. Physicists rank Dirac among the top theorists of the 20^th century. Most of his research was concerned with quantum mechanics, the best theory so far for describing the behavior of molecules, atoms, and things that are even smaller. He published nearly 200 scientific papers and seven books, the most important of which, Principles of Quantum Mechanics, went through four editions. The influence of the book on several generations of physicists has been profound.

Antoine Laurent Lavoisier

http://portrait.kaar.at

French chemist, was born Paris, August 26, 1743. Lavoisier studied law together with mathematics, astronomy, botany, and chemistry at the College Mazarin. His interest in chemistry, aroused undoubtedly by his great teacher, G.F. Rouelle, at the age of 21, although fully trained for the legal profession and admitted to the Frenh bar. Lavoisier dedicated his life to science and by 1765 his first scientific paper was presented to the Academie des Sciences. In 1770 Lavoisier began his studies on combustion, and two years later he deposited sealed sulphur and phosphorous increased in weight when burned in air, while lead oxide decreased in weight upon its reduction to lead. These studies made it possible for him to propose the oxygen theory immediately following Joseph Priestley’s announcement in 1774 of the discovery of oxygen. Lavoisier published a reformed system of chemical terminology in 1787 and a complete reclassification of the elements in 1789. He died on May 8, 1794.