Modern concept of chemical element (The Sceptical Chymist)

What was discovered

Boyle rejects the four Aristotelian elements and the Paracelsian tria prima, and defines an element as a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler ones, supporting a corpuscular view of matter.

Boyle also popularised vegetable indicators (syrup of violets) for acids and alkalis.

What it led to

• Chemistry as an experimental science
• Dalton's atomic theory
• Chemical analysis

Built on

• Gassendi's corpuscularism
• Sennert's alchemy

Made possible

• identification tests (flame tests, indicators)

📄 Original publication

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