Who formulated the first law of thermodynamics?

The first law of thermodynamics, which is essentially a version of the law of conservation of energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. Rudolf Clausius played a significant role in the development of this law through his work in the mid-19th century. He helped to formalize the concept that energy exchanges in thermodynamic processes can be quantified and are fundamentally conserved. Clausius introduced important concepts such as the internal energy of a system, making it clear how energy transfers through heat and work occur. His contributions were pivotal in establishing the foundational principles of thermodynamics that are still used today to understand energy transformations in various processes.