Oxygen is crucial for the survival of humans, animals and plants alike. The complex history of the discovery of oxygen began with it first being discovered by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1772. He had produced oxygen gas by heating mercuric oxide and various nitrates. As it was the only known agent to support combustion at that time, Scheele called it ‘fire air.’ His manuscript titled Treatise on Air and Fire which he sent to the publisher in 1775 contained an account of his discovery. It was published in 1777.
Meanwhile, Joseph Priestley had independently discovered oxygen as well as published his findings in 1775. As this paper, titled An Account of Further Discoveries in Air preceded Scheele’s publication by two years; Priestley is given priority in the discovery.
Another person who also discovered oxygen around this time was Antoine Lavoisier. He was the French chemist who recognized it as an element and even coined the name ‘oxygen.’ The name is derived from the Greek word that means ‘acid former’, a property that oxygen does not really possess.
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