Robert Boyle was an aristocrat born in Lismore Castle
in Lismore, Waterford
,
Ireland in 1627 seventh son and fourteenth in total, the wealthy Earl of Cork. Still a child, learned to speak Latin
and French
, being sent only eight years
Eton College, of which he was director of her father's friend Sir Henry Wotton
. At 15, he started traveling with a French tutor. He lived for nearly two years in Genoa
and visiting Italy in 1641, spent the winter in Florence
exploring paradoxes of Galileo Galilei, who pass away the following year.
Returning to England in 1644
found that his father had died leaving his estate of Stalbridge
in Dorset
, and estates in Ireland
, a fortune granted to a large part to its research. Frequented London where he met the group of scientists that later formed the nucleus of the Royal Society. Since then, devoted his life to scientific research and study, soon taking a prominent place among the inquisitors known as the Invisible College (Invisible College), whose members were devoted to the cultivation of the "new philosophy" (science). Its members met frequently in London
, often at Gresham College
, some also held meetings in Oxford
, Boyle city where she moved in 1654
.
In 1657, reading about the air pump Otto von Guericke
was proposed with the help of Robert Hooke
develop improvements in its construction, which resulted in the machine or machine Boyleana air
completed in 1659
and it started with a series of experiments on
properties air. In 1660, he published an account of the work done with that instrument with the title New Experiments PhysicoMechanical Touching the Spring of Air and Its Effects (New Physico-mechanical experiments on the elasticity of air and its effects).
Using such a bomb, was the first to demonstrate Galileo's assertion that in a vacuum, a pen and lump of lead fall at the same speed, and also stated that the sound
not transmitted in a vacuum. His most important discovery because of the vacuum pump was the beginning (called later
Boyle's Law) that the volume occupied by a gas is inversely proportional to the pressure
with which the gas is compressed and that if the pressure is removed, the air "recovered" (his own word) their original
volume. Having established that the air was compressible. Boyle was convinced that it was composed of small particles
separated by empty space . All these ideas were published in a book with a title very long, often called "the elasticity of the air" and played a significant role in establishing the idea of \u200b\u200b
atomic nature of matter .
In the field of chemistry, Boyle noted that the air is consumed in the combustion process and that metals gain weight when oxidized. Recognized the difference between a compound and a mixture, and formulated his atomic theory of matter based on laboratory experiments.
Among the critics of the theories expounded in this work was the Jesuit
Franciscus Linus (1595-1675), being as he answered their objections when Boyle states that the volume of a gas varies inversely with pressure, known in the Anglo-Saxon as Boyle's Law, and in Europe as
Boyle-Mariotte , although the latter was not published until 1676
.
In 1663
the Invisible College became the Royal Society
of London "for the improvement of knowledge of nature", Boyle found between board members appointed by royal charter granted by
Association Carlos II.
In 1680 he was elected president of the society, but declined the honor of being named by unscrupulous before oaths.
In 1668 he left Oxford and moved to London at the home of his sister, Lady Ranelagh, in Pall Mall around 1689, his health, never very robust, began to fail, forcing him to withdraw from her public engagements, ceasing their communications with the Royal Society and by making public his desire to be excused from receiving visitors, except in very special occasions, Tuesday and Friday mornings and Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. His health worsened in 1691
, died on December 30
of that year to be beaten by a prostitute, just a week after his sister died, with whom he had lived more than 20 years. His body was interred in the chapel of
St Martin's in the Fields , after a funeral officiated by his friend Bishop Burnet.
NEAR CRITICAL OBSERVATION AND RESEARCH
When Boyle found in 1675 Silvio theory-Tachenio (a reaction between an acid and a base is a neutralization reaction) has challenged the vagueness of the terms acid and alkali (base) as were used in it, and said the turmoil was not an appropriate test to check the acidity, it also was for alkalinity. Boyle
indicators developed, discovered a substance vegatal blue, purple juice concentrate, q became red with acids and green with alkalis.
In "Experimental History of Colours" in 1664 argued that if the dyers and artists could create a wide range of different colors from a single plant extract, by adding an acid or alkali (base) could also use these statements as indicators of acidity or alkalinity of unknown substances. From this statement comes the litmus test, which was done with natural dye Rocella. The medieval painters soaking small pieces of linen cloth in the juice plant purple litmus. When dry cloths dipped in the water, forming a bright red solution that could be used like watercolor, especially if vinegar is added to enhance the color. If, however, it was a dry cloth with lime water, and if the urine was used as a solvent, once dry colorazión acquired a violet. It is not known whether Boyle drew the idea of \u200b\u200bthis technique litmus medieval, but it seems very likely.
Friends! As you know, the South-East Regional Expociencia 2008 is looming, so the organizing committee has doubled its efforts in the various activities that the committee has been assigned. Soon will attach relevant information about the areas involved in this great event of popular science, and outstanding projects and newsletters as published in various media. 
