School of History and Culture of Science, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
Abstract:
Oxygen preparation by potassium chlorate and manganese dioxide is one of the most classical laboratory method. Few study has been made so far on its origination and establishment. Through checking the original roles of potassium chlorate and manganese dioxide, it is found that manganese dioxide was ever first selected as raw material for making oxygen, then led the discovery of chlorine by Scheele and potassium chlorate by Berthollet. Potassium chlorate itself was also ever used for oxygen preparation at a high temperature. In 1832, manganese dioxide was firstly mixed with potassium chlorate for oxygen by Döbereiner and reduces the temperature dramatically. With more following studies, the classic method of oxygen preparation via the two materials was finally established.