Marc Charles Sauria(25 April 1812 – 22 August 1895)[1]was a French chemist credited for inventingphosphorus-basedmatchesin 1830–1831.[2]
Charles Sauria | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 25 April 1812 Poligny, Jura,France |
| Died | 22 August 1895(aged 83) Saint-Lothain,France |
| Nationality | French |
| Known for | Invention ofphosphorus-basedmatches |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Signature | |
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Several events are believed to have led Sauria to his discovery, including the hydrogen lighter introduced in 1827 byJoseph Louis Gay-Lussacand the demonstration by his chemistry professor Nicolet where a powder mixture ofpotassium chlorateandsulfurwas detonated by a blow. During a long series of experiments, Sauria went on to add whitephosphorusthat helped ignite the mixture by friction. He finalized the invention by addinggum arabicto hold the powders together, and dipping pieces of wood into it.[3]
Sauria was a poor student at the time; however, Nicolet communicated his invention to German industrialist Friedrich Kammerer who had patented it and used it in mass production of matches.[4]The British chemistJohn Walkerhad introduced a very similar match some five years earlier, where he usedantimony sulfideinstead of white phosphorus. However, the phosphorus matches became more popular, mostly because of the reduced smell of sulfur,[5]and quickly replaced those made by Walker. Around the time of Sauria's death, some 3 trillion of white phosphorus matches per year were produced worldwide.[2]However, white phosphorus was soon proven to be toxic and banned by the internationalBerne Conventionin 1906.
References
edit- ^Marc Charles SAURIA.JanineTissot.fdaf.org (in French)
- ^abLewis R. Goldfrank; Neal Flomenbaum (2006).Goldfrank's toxicologic emergencies.McGraw-Hill Professional. pp. 1486–.ISBN978-0-07-147914-1.Retrieved19 November2011.
- ^Joseph-Marie Montmasson (1999).Invention and the Unconscious.Taylor and Francis. pp. 109–.ISBN978-0-415-20965-6.Retrieved19 November2011.
- ^Disease of occupation from the legislative, social, and medical points of view.Taylor & Francis. pp. 39–.Retrieved19 November2011.
- ^Mary Ellen Snodgrass (27 September 2004).Encyclopedia of kitchen history.Taylor & Francis. pp. 621–.ISBN978-1-57958-380-4.Retrieved19 November2011.