Emergence of modern scientific discourse in the American continent: knowledge claims in the discovery of Erythronium/Vanadium in Mexico (1802–1832)

Abstract In the present paper, we study the discovery of the chemical element number 23, Erythronium/Vanadium (E/V), as an early example of the modern process of validating knowledge claims in Mexico. We examined the published work between 1802 and 1832 of Andres Manuel del Rio (AMR) in the Royal Mining Seminar of Mexico and contrasted the styles of argument and forms of certification between his teaching and experimental writings concerning his claim to the paternity of E/V discovery. We also analyze the respective papers of European authors that replicated, rediscovered and certified AMR’s finding. We use a combination of bibliometric, sociotechnical network and literary critical analysis in order to show that the certification of E/V spawned an emerging mode for producing and validating new knowledge in the American continent and particularly in Mexico. In turn, this approach supports AMR’s claim to the discovery of E/V from the production process of the lead brown ore in Zimapan, Mexico.