If you weren't sleeping through your chemistry classes in high school, you probably heard the phrase "Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed." This is basically what we know as the law of conservation of mass. It was coined by Antoine Lavoisier, the man considered the father of modern chemistry and one of history's most influential scientists.

However, he will end his days under the blade of the guillotine in 1794. How can this be? Join us as we delve into the remarkable but tragic life of Lavoisier, a savant at the scaffold!

Timecodes

Introduction
06:36 - Young, Rich and Brillant
13:25 - Understanding Nature
20:39 - The French Revolution
25:37 - The Blade Falls
31:17 - Conclusion

Relevant Episode:
The French Revolution, a Worldwide Tremor

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Portrait d'Antoine Lavoisier et de sa femme, Jacques-Louis David, 1788. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Support the show

Reach out, support the show and give me feedback!