Photosynthesis (Priestley, Ingenhousz)
Fotosíntesis: las plantas liberan oxígeno con la luz
- Date
- 1771-1779 · confidence high
- Place
- London, England
- Credited to
- Joseph Priestley, Jan Ingenhousz, Jean Senebier
- People
- 👤 Jan Ingenhousz1730–1799👤 Jean Senebier1742–1809👤 Joseph Priestley1733–1804
- Field
- Life & health
What was discovered
Priestley showed that plants 'restore' air fouled by a candle; Ingenhousz demonstrated in 1779 that this requires light and green parts, and that plants respire in the dark. Senebier added the role of CO2.
Ingenhousz carried out his experiments in England, near London.
What it led to
- plant physiology
- understanding of the carbon and oxygen cycles
- scientific agronomy
- ecosystem ecology
Built on
- Fixed air (carbon dioxide) and quantitative pneumatic chemistry1756
- van Helmont and the willow tree
Made possible
- Precision agriculture (GPS yield monitors and autosteer)1994-2000
- Calvin cycle (1950)