Joseph Priestley's Air and Plant Experiments Quiz

Joseph Priestley's Discoveries

• In 1774, Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen, which he called "dephlogisticated air".

Priestley's Experiments

• In a closed space, a burning candle eventually stops burning, and a mouse dies.
• Priestley observed that a burning candle in a closed space would eventually stop burning, and the air would become "spent" or unable to support life.

Conclusions and Findings

• Priestley concluded that a burning candle or an animal in a closed space would eventually use up or "vitiate" the air, making it unable to support life.
• When he placed a mint plant in the bell jar with the burning candle, he found that the plant would thrive, and the candle would continue to burn.
• Priestley hypothesized that plants play a crucial role in "purifying" the air, which was a groundbreaking idea at the time.

Importance of Priestley's Findings

• Priestley's discovery highlighted the importance of plants in maintaining air quality and supporting life.