The darkening of powdered silver nitrate when exposed to sunlight, recorded in 1614, stands as one of the most significant observations made by Angelo Sala. As an Italian physician and chemist operating across early seventeenth-century Europe, he systematically challenged the prevailing alchemical myths of his era by applying rigorous experimental standards to the study of chemical reactions and medical compounds.
Early Career and Migration
Born in Vicenza in 1576, the son of a spinner named Bernardino Sala, he initially trained in pharmacy in Venice. A Calvinist, he departed Italy to pursue his career. Over the following years, he worked as a city doctor in Winterthur from 1607 to 1609 and spent time in cities including Dresden, Nuremberg, and Geneva. These travels preceded a prolific period of publication on chemistry and medicinal practices that began around 1608.
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Sala emerged as an early figure in iatrochemistry, favoring chemical remedies over traditional Galenical systems. He maintained a strong skepticism toward the transmutation goals of alchemists, explicitly distancing himself from those who sought the philosopher's stone. His work demonstrated the decomposition of copper vitriol into its constituent parts and the synthesis of sal ammoniac from hydrochloric acid and ammonium carbonate. He advocated for chemical nomenclature that accurately reflected a compound's ingredients, suggesting terms such as Substantia Ferrea Vitrioli to describe ferric oxide.
The Foundation of Sugar Chemistry
His investigative approach led him to perform the first studies on the fermentation of musts into alcohol, earning him the title of the founder of sugar chemistry. By adhering to corpuscular theory, Sala posited that fermentation was a regrouping of elementary particles. He maintained that these minute atoms remained unchangeable through various chemical steps, a belief supported by experiments showing the persistence of substances through complex transformations.
Service in Northern Europe
Sala served as personal physician to several figures, including Count Anton Günther of Oldenburg and Duke John Albert II of Mecklenburg, for whom he worked in Güstrow beginning in 1625. In 1628, he joined the Fruitbearing Society under the name 'der Lindernde' with the chamomile blossom as his emblem. During his later years, he lectured on chemistry at the University of Rostock, continuing his medical duties until his death in Bützow in 1637.
Fast facts
- Born: 1576, Vicenza
- Died: 1637, Bützow
- Citizenship: Republic of Venice
- Key Discovery: Photo-sensitivity of silver nitrate
- Academic Affiliation: University of Rostock
- Society Membership: Fruitbearing Society
- Professional Title: Physician, chemist, inventor
Questions readers ask
Did Angelo Sala discover photography?
He discovered that silver nitrate darkens upon exposure to sunlight and recorded this in 1614, providing a foundational observation for the future development of the photographic process.
What was Sala's stance on alchemy?
He was a vocal critic of alchemical transmutation, frequently warning against fraud and dismissing the existence of the philosopher's stone.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Rostock
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