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Stanislao CannizzaroItalian chemist
Date of Birth: 13.07.1826
Country:  Italy |
Content:
- Stanislao Cannizzaro: A Pioneer in Chemistry
- Chemical Research and Advocacy
- The Cannizzaro Reaction
- Advocacy for Avogadro's Hypothesis
- The Karlsruhe Congress and Atomic Mass Determination
- Later Career and Honors
Stanislao Cannizzaro: A Pioneer in Chemistry
Early Life and EducationStanislao Cannizzaro was born on July 13, 1826, in Palermo, Sicily. He initially pursued medical studies at the University of Palermo and later transferred to the University of Pisa.
Chemical Research and Advocacy
During his time at Pisa, Cannizzaro worked closely with the renowned chemist Raffaele Piria, assisting in his research on salicin. In 1847, he joined the laboratory of Michel-Eugène Chevreul in France, where he collaborated with Frédéric Cloez in discovering cyanamide.
Upon returning to Palermo, Cannizzaro participated in a rebellion against the Bourbon monarchy. Following its suppression, he fled to France, where he continued his research. In 1851, he accepted a professorship at the National College in Alessandria.
The Cannizzaro Reaction
In 1852, while investigating the reaction of potassium hydroxide on benzaldehyde, Cannizzaro discovered a reaction that resulted in the formation of benzyl alcohol. This reaction, now known as the Cannizzaro reaction, is widely used in both chemistry and biochemistry.
Advocacy for Avogadro's Hypothesis
Cannizzaro was an ardent supporter of Amedeo Avogadro's hypothesis, which proposed that equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain an equal number of molecules. In 1858, he published a pamphlet entitled "Sunto di un corso di filosopfia chimica," in which he passionately defended Avogadro's ideas.
The Karlsruhe Congress and Atomic Mass Determination
At the International Congress of Chemists held in Karlsruhe in 1860, Cannizzaro's arguments and the distribution of his pamphlet helped convince skeptical scientists of the validity of Avogadro's hypothesis. It became a fundamental principle of chemistry.
Cannizzaro also developed a reliable method for determining atomic masses based on the percentage composition of elements in pure compounds. This method laid the foundation for modern atomic mass determination.
Later Career and Honors
In 1871, Cannizzaro was appointed to the Senate and later became its vice-president. As a member of the Council of Public Education, he oversaw scientific education in Italy. In 1891, he received the Copley Medal from the Royal Society of London in recognition of his contributions to chemistry.
Stanislao Cannizzaro died in Rome on May 9, 1910, leaving behind a legacy as a brilliant chemist and influential advocate for the advancement of scientific knowledge.
