Friedrich Wohler

Friedrich Wohler

Famous German chemist
Date of Birth: 31.07.1800
Country: Germany

Content:
  1. Friedrich Wöhler: A Pioneer in Chemistry
  2. Passion for Chemistry
  3. Scientific Discoveries
  4. Milestone Synthesis: Urea from Inorganic Compounds
  5. Personal Life and Legacy

Friedrich Wöhler: A Pioneer in Chemistry

Early Life and Education

Friedrich Wöhler was born on July 31, 1800, in Eschersheim, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. His father was a prominent burgher, and his mother was an artist. Wöhler enrolled in the medical faculty of the University of Marburg at the insistence of his parents. In 1823, he received his doctorate in medicine and surgery.

Passion for Chemistry

Despite his medical training, Wöhler's true passion lay in chemistry. As a first-year student, he prepared the cyanogen iodine compound ICN in the university's chemical laboratory. Recognizing his passion, Wöhler approached the Swedish chemist Jöns Jakob Berzelius and requested to work as his laboratory assistant. Berzelius granted him this opportunity, and Wöhler's scientific career began.

Scientific Discoveries

Wöhler made significant contributions to the field of chemistry. He isolated and purified numerous elements, including aluminum, beryllium, boron, yttrium, and silicon carbide (SiC). He also synthesized calcium carbide (CaC2), silane (SiH4), and trichlorosilane (SiHCl3). Wöhler's innovative method for obtaining white phosphorus (P4) by heating a mixture of calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2), coal, and silica (SiO2) is still widely used in industries worldwide.

Milestone Synthesis: Urea from Inorganic Compounds

Wöhler's most renowned achievement was the synthesis of urea ((NH2)2CO) from ammonium cyanate (NH4NCO) in 1828. This synthesis challenged the existing vitalistic belief that only living organisms could create organic compounds. Wöhler's discovery demonstrated the possibility of converting inorganic substances into organic molecules, paving the way for the development of organic chemistry.

Personal Life and Legacy

Wöhler married twice. His first wife passed away two years after their marriage. He later married Julie Pfeiffer, with whom he had four daughters. One of his daughters, Emilie, became his secretary and biographer. Friedrich Wöhler passed away on September 23, 1882, at the age of 82. He left behind a remarkable legacy as a pioneering chemist whose discoveries advanced the understanding of chemical elements and synthesis.

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