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Emil ErlenmeyerGerman scientist, organic chemist, synthesized isobutyric acid
Date of Birth: 28.06.1825
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Emil Erlenmeyer
Emil Erlenmeyer was a German scientist and organic chemist who made significant contributions to the field of chemistry. He was best known for the creation of the Erlenmeyer flask and Erlenmeyer's rule, which are still widely used today.
Early Life and Education
Emil Erlenmeyer was born into a Protestant family in Germany, to Friedrich Erlenmeyer, a theologian. He initially studied medicine at the University of Giessen but became interested in chemistry after attending lectures by Justus von Liebig. In 1846, Erlenmeyer moved to Heidelberg to study physics, botany, and mineralogy. He returned to the University of Giessen in 1847 and worked as an assistant to Carl Fresenius before pursuing a career in pharmacy.
Career and Contributions
After completing additional courses and exams in Nassau, Emil Erlenmeyer established his own pharmacy business. However, he quickly became disenchanted with pharmacy and returned to the study of chemistry. In 1850, he completed his education at the university and later moved to Heidelberg in 1855, where he built his own private laboratory.
In 1857, Erlenmeyer became a privat-docent and gained recognition for his dissertation, which described several interesting substances. His work caught the attention of Robert Bunsen and he became influenced by the theories of August Kekulé, becoming one of the early scientists to apply Kekulé's theories in practice.
In 1862, Emil Erlenmeyer proposed the existence of double and triple bonds between carbon atoms, making him one of the first scientists in the world to do so. He later became an assistant professor at the University of Heidelberg in 1863 and was appointed as a full professor at the Munich Polytechnic School in 1868.
Throughout his career, Erlenmeyer focused on theoretical chemistry and made notable contributions. He formulated the structural formula of naphthalene and developed Erlenmeyer's rule, which states that hydrocarbon compounds cannot have two hydroxyl groups on the same carbon atom. He primarily worked with aliphatic compounds.
Erlenmeyer's interest shifted to the study of albumins in 1859, where he developed techniques to determine the relative quantities of leucine and tyrosine. In 1860, he described the conical flask that is still widely used in chemistry today. The wide base gradually narrows towards the neck, allowing substances to be mixed in the flask without the risk of spilling.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1873, Emil Erlenmeyer became a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and a year later, he was elected as the vice-president of the German Chemical Society. Ten years later, he became the president of the society while continuing to lead the Munich Polytechnic School.
Emil Erlenmeyer passed away on January 22, 1909, at the age of 83. His contributions to the field of chemistry, including the Erlenmeyer flask and Erlenmeyer's rule, continue to be recognized and utilized in scientific research and laboratories worldwide.
