How did temperature and solubility affect chemical reactions according to Claude-Louis Berthollet?

Claude-Louis Berthollet proposed that the direction and outcome of chemical reactions are not determined solely by absolute chemical affinities, but are significantly modified by the physical conditions of the reaction environment.1

According to his theory, factors such as temperature and solubility often offset the influence of affinities. Berthollet argued that reactions seek a state of static equilibrium, and he emphasized that physical circumstances—including the concentration of reagents, cohesion, and elasticity—play a decisive role in how these reactions proceed.12

Regarding temperature, Berthollet believed that because molecules in gaseous reactions were separated by "caloric" (a hypothetical substance associated with heat), specific temperatures were required for these reactions to be successful. His focus on these physical variables and the mass of reactants laid the groundwork for the later formulation of the law of mass action.12