Who Discovered It

Represented by the atomic number 3 and symbol Li in the periodic table, lithium is described as a silver-white and soft metal. It is one of the alkali metals, which is generally considered the lightest amongst the various kinds of metals. Likewise, it is also the least dense amongst the different solid elements. More than anything else, it is known for its important uses in the fields of medicine, electronics and general engineering. The Discovery of Lithium Who discovered the element lithium? In 1817, a Swedish chemist named Johan August Arfwedson became the very first person to discover this chemical element. The result came from his analysis of a petalite ore. Before that, a Brazilian scientist named Jose Bonifacio de Andrade e Silva discovered lithium aluminum silicate or petalite in 1800. This finding was instrumental, particularly in the discovery of lithium. Swedish chemist Jons Jakob Berzelius named it ‘lithos,’ which later on was standardized as lithium. Additional Facts...

Introduction Orion’s Belt is an asterism of three stars in the Orion constellation. It is one of the most well-known constellations in the sky. The belt makes it easily discernible to the human eye. Because it is clearly visible, Orion’s Belt was known throughout the ancient world. No single astronomer discovered it. Features of Orion and Orion’s Belt The Orion constellation suggests the figure of a hunter with a belt around his waist. He appears to hold a club and shield in his hands. One of the stars representing the hunter’s legs is Rigel. It is the sixth brightest star in the heavens. Because of their brightness, Orion’s stars can be used to locate other stars such as Castor and Pollux and Sirius. The three stars of Orion’s Belt are named Alnitak, Alniham and Mintaka. Christian believers have identified them with ether the Three Magi who visited the child Jesus, and the three women named Mary in the Bible: Mary of Magdala, Mary of Cleopas and Mary the mother of the apostles...

Who discovered gunpowder? Invention of Gunpowder Gunpowder is a mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal. It was discovered in ancient China, some say around 8th century AD. A familiar story narrates how charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter were inadvertently joined together in a Chinese cook’s kitchen. There the first fireworks / gunpowder explosion took place. Another theory states that the emperor Wu Di commissioned a team of alchemists in 156-87 BC to discover the elixir of life. Their findings are said to have been recorded by alchemist Wei Bo yang in an alchemical text called “Kinship of the Three”. Uses of the Black Powder It seems ironic that the quest for immortality and long life led to the discovery of a destructive modern weapon. Actually, gunpowder’s first use was as a medicine. Chinese physicians used the mixture of charcoal, saltpeter and sulfur to treat skin diseases and repel insects. Then people discovered the black powder could be used to make fireworks. They...

The slope formula determines the position of a line with respect to its “x” and “y” coordinates. This mathematical calculation is the concern of Analytical Geometry which solves linear and geometric problem with the aid of Algebra. Thus, to the question who discovered the slope formula, it is necessary to look into who started Analytic Geometry. Rene Descartes 1596 Rene or Renee Decartes is the father of Analytical Geometry. He was a French mathematician, physicist, philosopher, and theologian. Many mathematics experts acknowledge him as the man who discovered the slope formula. He was said to have provided a method to solve the problem of lines and slopes in mathematics by his prowess in Algebra and Geometry. The basic slope formula is y=mx+b while the more complex point-slope formula is y-yl=m(x-x1). Because Descartes is the father of Analytical Geometry and this subject centers mostly on lines and slopes, he was the first to introduce solutions to slopes and linear problems....

Introduction Medicine is universal to all mankind. It may even be found amongst animals. For example tigers and dogs eat grass when they have digestive problems. Because sickness is common to all, it is impossible to say that one person discovered medicine. Here we give a brief history of medicine in the ancient world. Oldest Discoveries in Medicine Like animals, primitive man used plants as medicine. Animals seem to know what is good for them when they are ill. It may be inherited or instinctive knowledge, or a little bit of both. With prehistoric man it was probably the same thing. Over time with much experimentation, people came to know more and more about the helpful plants around them. These herbs, fruits and vegetables were therefore the first medicine humans discovered. Discovery of Medicine in Egypt Herodotus in his Histories praised the ancient Egyptians as “the healthiest of people,” second only to Libyans. He ascribed this to good weather conditions and a sound health care...