[Nicolas Lémery and acidity]

After a recalling of Lémery's biography, the history of acidity before Lémery is evoked. The opinions of Theophrastus, Libavius, Otto Techenius, Robert Boyle and François André are compared. According to Lémery's theory points of acids enter the pores of alkalis, giving salts which are different from a simple mixture. This theory was approved by the scientific community. The examples of J. Morin and Baron are given. A short description of the evolution of the concept of acidity after Lémery's period is also given.