Category Science

Friedrich Wohler was a German chemist who chose to be a teacher of chemistry. He was one of the finest scientists of the 19th century.

        Wohler gained international renown from two path breaking discoveries. In 1827, Wohler prepared the first pure sample of aluminum. This metal is the third most prevalent element in the earth’s crust, but it is exceedingly difficult to isolate it from its compounds.

        He also discovered how to make urea in the laboratory without the use of a living kidney. This was an important discovery, because it heralded the end of an existing theory that organic compounds could only be made by living things. Wohler was the co-discoverer of beryllium, silicon, and silicon nitride.

       In 1832, Wohler, along with another scientist Justus Liebig published a study on the oil of bitter almonds which proved that a group of atoms can act like a single element, and be exchanged for elements in chemical compounds. This too, took the scientific world by storm.

Michael Faraday was 19th century British chemist and physicist. He is often called the father of electricity with good reason.

       His work on electrochemistry and electromagnetism laid the foundation for many areas of science. It was in 1831 that Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, the principle behind the electric transformer and generator. This discovery was crucial in allowing electricity to be transformed from a curiosity, into a powerful new technology. He was partly responsible for coining many familiar words including ‘electrode’, ‘cathode’ and ‘ion’ Faraday laid the basis of the electromagnetic field concept in physics, discovered the laws of electrolysis, and invented electromagnetic rotary devices that were vital in the creation of electric motors. Faraday has thus played a key role in the development of electricity for use in, modern technology.

Sir Humphrey Davy was an English chemist who made many notable contributions to science, especially in electrochemistry. He is renowned for the invention, in 1815, of the Davy safety lamp that helped to prevent explosions in coal mines. Davy was the first to isolate several chemical elements, including sodium and potassium.

        He discovered boron, and found that nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, had anaesthetic properties that could be useful in surgery. Davy did many experiments on the effect of breathing in certain gases- and once, almost killed himself by inhaling a mixture of toxic gases.

      His research included work on early forms of electric batteries, and the use of electricity to isolate chemical elements. He also analyzed mineral, and completed many studies in tanning and agriculture chemistry.

    Did you know that in 1809, Humphrey Davy invented the very first electric light? He did this by connecting two wires to a single battery, and then attaching a charcoal strip between the other two ends of the wires. The charged carbon then glowed, making the very first arc lamp. Humphrey Davy was one of the greatest scientists, ever in the history of mankind.

Amedo Avogadro was an outstanding Italian physicist who lived in the 18th century.

    Although he had followed the family tradition by studying law, he gradually lost interest in legal matters. He found science was much more intellectually stimulating.

    Mathematics, and physics, in particular attracted his logical mind. Avogadro is chiefly remembered for his molecular hypothesis, first presented in 1811. He stated that equal volumes of different gases contain an equal number of molecules, provided they are at the same temperature and pressure.

     Amedeo Avogadro was a great scientist who made important contributions to physics. However, he never received any awards for his discoveries.

      Avogadro’s hypothesis gained acceptance only after his death as people did not recognize their significance. In honour of his contribution to molecular theory, the number of molecules in one mole was named Avogadro’s number.