While Jan Ingenhousz described the irregular motion of coal dust particles on the surface of alcohol in 1785, the discovery of this phenomenon is often credited to the botanist Robert Brown in 1827. Brown was studying pollen grains of the plant Clarkia pulchella suspended in water under a microscope when he observed minute particles, ejected by the pollen grains, executing a jittery motion. By repeating the experiment with particles of inorganic matter he was able to rule out that the motion was life-related, although its origin was yet to be explained.
while jan ingenhousz described the irregular motion of coal dust particles on the surface of alcohol in 1785 the discovery of this phenomenon is often credited to the botanist robert brown in 1827 brown was studying pollen grains of the plant clarkia pulchella suspended in water under a microscope when he observed minute particles ejected by the pollen grains executing a jittery motion by repeating the experiment with particles of inorganic matter he was able to rule out that the motion was life-related although its origin was yet to be explained