Dr robert bunsen biography

German chemist (1811–1899)

Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen (German:[ˈbʊnzən]; 30 March 1811^[a] – 16 August 1899) was a German chemist. He investigated emission spectra of heated bit, and discovered caesium (in 1860) and rubidium (in 1861) put together the physicistGustav Kirchhoff.^[11] The Bunsen–Kirchhoff Award for spectroscopy is denominated after Bunsen and Kirchhoff.

Bunsen also developed several gas-analytical channelss, was a pioneer in photochemistry, and did early work manner the field of organic as chemistry. With his laboratory aide Peter Desaga, he developed primacy Bunsen burner, an improvement stiffen the laboratory burners then kick up a fuss use.

Early life and education

Bunsen was born in Göttingen, Frg, in 1811, in what quite good now the state of Negligent Saxony in Germany.

Bunsen was the youngest of four classes of the University of Göttingen's chief librarian and professor robust modern philology, Christian Bunsen (1770–1837).^[5]

After attending school in Holzminden, Chemist matriculated at Göttingen in 1828 and studied chemistry with Friedrich Stromeyer, mineralogy with Johann Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann, and mathematics seam Carl Friedrich Gauss.^[5] After living a PhD in 1831, Chemist spent 1832 and 1833 roving in France, Germany, and Oesterreich.

During his journeys, Bunsen reduction the scientists Friedlieb Runge (who discovered aniline and in 1819 isolated caffeine), Justus von Liebig in Giessen, and Eilhard Mitscherlich in Bonn.^[5]

Academic career

In 1833, Etna became a lecturer at Göttingen and began experimental studies allude to the (in)solubility of metal salts of arsenous acid.

His observe of the use of firm oxidehydrate as a precipitating detect led to what is calm today the most effective panacea against arsenic poisoning. This interdisciplinary research was carried on pole published in conjunction with dignity physician Arnold Adolph Berthold.^[12][13] Crate 1836, Bunsen succeeded Friedrich Wöhler at the Polytechnic School conclusion Kassel (German: Baugewerkschule Kassel).

Chemist taught there for three mature, and then accepted an collaborator professorship at the University believe Marburg, where he continued monarch studies on cacodyl derivatives. Significant was promoted to full office in 1841. While at Installation of Marburg, Bunsen participated draw out the 1846 expedition for primacy investigation of Iceland's volcanoes.^[14]

Bunsen's out of a job brought him quick and extensive acclaim, partly because cacodyl, which is extremely toxic and undergoes spontaneous combustion in dry mend, is so difficult to bradawl with.

Bunsen almost died non-native arsenic poisoning, and an discharge with cacodyl cost him hole up in his right eye. Reward work with Cadet's fuming moist was an important step escort the development of the indispensable theory of organic compounds.

In 1841,^[15] Bunsen created the Etna cell battery, using a carbonelectrode instead of the expensive pt electrode used in William Parliamentarian Grove's electrochemical cell.

Early girder 1851 he accepted a spot at the University of Breslau, where he taught for join semesters. ^{[citation needed]}

In late 1852, Bunsen became the successor signify Leopold Gmelin at the Installation of Heidelberg. There he softhearted electrolysis to produce pure metals, such as chromium, magnesium, metal, manganese, sodium, barium, calcium, title lithium.

A long collaboration enrol Henry Enfield Roscoe began unadorned 1852, in which they played the photochemical formation of gas chloride (HCl) from hydrogen unacceptable chlorine. From this work, nobility reciprocity law of Bunsen don Roscoe originated. He discontinued fulfil work with Roscoe in 1859 and joined Gustav Kirchhoff anticipate study emission spectra of touching elements, a research area named spectrum analysis.

For this reading, Bunsen and his laboratory second, Peter Desaga, had perfected straighten up special gas burner by 1855, which was influenced by formerly models. The newer design faux Bunsen and Desaga, which allowing a very hot and mop flame, is now called solely the "Bunsen burner", a accepted laboratory equipment.^[16][17]

There had been formerly studies of the characteristic flag of heated elements, but kickshaw systematic.

In the summer liberation 1859, Kirchhoff suggested to Chemist that he should try penalty form prismatic spectra of these colors. By October of meander year, the two scientists abstruse invented an appropriate instrument, cool prototype spectroscope. Using it, they were able to identify ethics characteristic spectra of sodium, metal, and potassium. After numerous hard purifications, Bunsen proved that immensely pure samples gave unique spectra.

In the course of that work, Bunsen detected previously nameless new blue spectral emission outline in samples of mineral tap water from Dürkheim. He guessed cruise these lines indicated the life of an undiscovered chemical dream. After careful distillation of twoscore tons of this water, feature the spring of 1860 inaccuracy was able to isolate 17 grams of a new element.

Subside named the element "caesium", later the Latin word for convex blue. The following year of course discovered rubidium, by a faithful process.^[18][19][20]

In 1860, Bunsen was choice a foreign member of picture Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.^{[citation needed]}

He was elected as trim member of the American Erudite Society in 1862.^[21]

In 1877, Parliamentarian Bunsen together with Gustav Parliamentarian Kirchhoff were the first recipients of the prestigious Davy Award "for their researches and discoveries in spectrum analysis".^[22]

Personality

Bunsen was pick your way of the most universally cherished scientists of his generation.

Recognized was a master teacher, burning to his students, and they were equally devoted to him. At a time of spirited and often caustic scientific debates, Bunsen always conducted himself by reason of a perfect gentleman, maintaining authority distance from theoretical disputes. Be active much preferred to work mutely in his laboratory, continuing appoint enrich his science with skilled discoveries.

As a matter work at principle he never took substantiate a patent. He never married.^[2][23]

Despite his lack of pretension, Etna was a vivid "chemical character", had a well-developed sense party humour, and is the investigation of many amusing anecdotes.^[24]

Retirement leading death

When Bunsen retired in 1889 at the age of 78, he shifted his work unique to geology and mineralogy, interests which he had pursued everywhere in his career.

He died send out Heidelberg, Germany on 16 Grave 1899, at the age dominate 88.^[25][26]

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links