The discovery of oxygen is attributed to the combined efforts of several scientists in the 18th century, each contributing uniquely to our understanding of this vital element.

• Joseph Priestley, an English clergyman and chemist, is often credited with the discovery of oxygen on August 1, 1774.

• Priestley conducted experiments by focusing sunlight on mercuric oxide (HgO), which released a gas he termed "dephlogisticated air."

• He observed that this gas allowed a candle to burn brighter and longer and supported animal respiration better than normal air.

• Carl Wilhelm Scheele, a Swedish pharmacist, also discovered oxygen independently in the early 1770s.

• Scheele produced oxygen by heating compounds like mercuric oxide and potassium nitrate but published his findings later in 1777.

• Antoine Lavoisier, a French chemist, named the element "oxygen" and clarified its nature through experiments in the 1770s and 1780s.

• Lavoisier debunked the phlogiston theory of combustion and respiration, demonstrating that oxygen is a distinct element.

• He showed that oxygen is a crucial component of air and essential for combustion and respiration.

• Lavoisier's work laid the foundation for modern chemistry, providing a clearer understanding of oxygen's role in chemical reactions.

• The discovery of oxygen is a collective achievement attributed to Joseph Priestley, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and Antoine Lavoisier.