Elizabeth Fulhame

Elizabeth Fulhame was an Irish chemist who is credited with discovering the concept of catalysis in chemical reactions. She is best known for her work on the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas.

Elizabeth Fulhame was born in 1778 and died in 1807. She lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Fulhame's discovery of catalysis challenged the prevailing belief at the time that chemical reactions could only occur as a result of direct contact between reactants. Her work showed that certain substances, which she called "catalysts," could facilitate chemical reactions without being consumed themselves. This laid the foundation for modern understanding of catalysis and its importance in various chemical processes.

Unfortunately, Fulhame did not receive recognition for her discoveries during her lifetime. Her work was largely overlooked, and it wasn't until many years later that her contributions to the field of chemistry were acknowledged.

Fulhame's most famous experiment involved the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas using ferrous hydroxide as a catalyst. This experiment served as a key demonstration of her concept of catalysis and contributed to the understanding of chemical reactions.