who discovered hydrogen

Hydrogen was discovered as a distinct element by the British scientist Henry Cavendish in 1766. Cavendish conducted experiments where he reacted zinc with hydrochloric acid and isolated a gas he called "inflammable air," which we now know as hydrogen. He also discovered that this gas produces water when burned, laying the foundation for understanding water's composition. Antoine Lavoisier later named the element "hydrogen" in 1783, derived from Greek words meaning "water-former".