Humphrey Davy
Sir Humphrey Davy was a famous British inventor, the leading chemist of his day, and a philosopher. Pure sodium was first isolated by Humphrey Davy in 1807 through the electrolysis of caustic soda (NaOH). Barium was first isolated by Humphrey Davy in 1808 through the electrolysis of molten baryta (BaO). Cool flames were accidentally discovered in 1817 by Humphrey Davy, at temperatures as low as 120°C, fuel-air mixtures react chemically and produce very weak flames called cool flames. In 1809, Humphrey Davy invented the first electric light. Davy connected two wires to a battery and attached a charcoal strip between the other ends of the wires. The charged carbon glowed making the first arc lamp. Davy later invented the miner’s safety lamp in 1815. The lamp called firedamp or mine damp, allowed for the mining of deep seams despite the presence of methane and other flammable gases.
