In the meantime, on August 1, 1774, an experiment conducted by the British clergyman Joseph Priestley focused sunlight on mercuric oxide (HgO) contained in a glass tube, which liberated a gas he named "dephlogisticated air".
Între timp, pe 1 august 1774, clericul britanic Joseph Priestley a focalizat un fascicul de lumină solară pe o eprubetă cu oxid mercuric (HgO), astfel eliberând un gaz pe care el l-a denumit „aer deflogisticat”.