Méthode de nomenclature chimique

work by Guyton de Morveau

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June 30, 2026

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Louis Bernard Guyton de Morveau was a French chemist instrumental in reforming chemical nomenclature. Before his work, chemical substances had unsystematic names, like "oil of vitriol" for sulfuric acid. Guyton proposed a system where names would reflect constituent parts and avoid discoverers' names.1

In 1787, he collaborated with Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier, Claude-Louis Berthollet, and Antoine-Fran\u00e7ois Fourcroy on the M\u00e9thode de nomenclature chimique ("Method of Chemical Nomenclature"). This work established a definitive reform for inorganic chemistry, coining many modern names, such as sulfuric acid. This systematic approach was a significant step in the chemical revolution, moving away from older, less descriptive naming conventions.12

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Louis Bernard Guyton de Morveau
Chemical nomenclature
…inorganic chemistry in their book Méthode de nomenclature chimique (“Method of Chemical Nomenclature”). In this book, vitriolic acid first became sulfuric acid, and many other modern names were coined.
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…inorganic chemistry in their book Méthode de nomenclature chimique (“Method of Chemical Nomenclature”). In this book, vitriolic acid first became sulfuric acid, and many other modern names were coined.
Read More