Antoine Lavoisier, often hailed as the father of modern chemistry, made groundbreaking contributions to the field by linking chemistry with the study of bodies, physiology, and what we now recognize as metabolism and respiration. One of his notable experiments involved freezing a guinea pig, a demonstration that revealed parallels between the processes observed in living organisms and those occurring in the natural world. Much like fire, humans and animals generated heat, and when confined in unventilated spaces, they transformed the air into a suffocating gas. Lavoisier discerned the equivalence of these two processes, though he couldn't establish the precise chemistry involved, he could demonstrate the fundamental physical principles at play. Guinea pigs, originally native to modern Peru, had already been introduced to Europe several centuries earlier, where they became cherished pets among the affluent.
Step by step
Solved in 3 steps
