(Lisemore, now Ireland, 1627-London, 1691) English chemist, born in Ireland. Pioneering experiments in the field of chemistry, in particular as regards the properties of gases, Robert Boyle's reasoning about the behavior of matter at the corpuscular level were the forerunners of the modern theory of chemical elements. It was also one of the founding members of the Royal Society of London.
Born into a noble family, Robert Boyle studied in the best English and European schools. From 1656 to 1668 he worked at Oxford University as an assistant to Robert Hooke, with whose cooperation was in conducting a series of experiments that established the physical characteristics of air, and the role it plays in combustion processes, respiration and sound transmission.
The results of these contributions were collected in New Physico-mechanical experiments on the elasticity of air and its effects (1660). In the second edition of this work (1662) described the famous property of gases known of Boyle's law, which states that the volume occupied by gas (now we know that this law is enforced only by accepting a theoretical ideal gas behavior), at constant temperature is inversely proportional to its pressure.
In 1661 he published The Sceptical Chemist, a work that attacks the old Aristotelian theory of four elements (earth, water, air, fire), and the three principles advocated by Paracelsus (salt, sulfur and mercury). By contrast, Boyle proposed the concept of fundamental particles which, when combined together in varying proportions produce different substances known.
His experimental work also addressed the study of the calcination of various metals, and also suggested how to distinguish substances alkaline, acidic, which gave rise to the use of chemical indicators. Devout Protestant, Robert Boyle spent part of their money in projects such as translation and publication of the New Testament in Gaelic and Turkish.
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