Science Common Sense


1498 - What are the basic components that make up matter according to Lavoisier

Antoine Lavoisier found that matter is made of small things called elements. He said there are four basic components that make up matter:

  1. Earth (or solids)
  2. Water (or liquids)
  3. Air (or gases)
  4. Fire (or energy)

But in 1789, he changed his mind about 'Earth', 'Air', 'Fire' and 'Water', and then identified 33 elements, like hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and 30 more that are actually the base components which combine in many different ways to make up everything around us.