Final answer:
3) Lavoisier's work on the role of oxygen in combustion was the beginning of modern chemistry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best statement about chemistry before 1800 is: 3) Lavoisier's quantitative work on the role of oxygen in combustion was the beginning of modern chemistry.
French chemist Antoine Lavoisier made significant contributions to the field of chemistry by conducting quantitative experiments and discovering the role of oxygen in combustion reactions.
His work laid the foundation for modern chemistry and helped shift the focus from mystical explanations to objective experimentation.
His discoveries also led to the development of the law of conservation of matter.