Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Berzelius was a Swedish chemist and a professor at Stockholm for over 50 years. It is said that he is entitled to be considered as one of the founders of the science of chemistry. He originated the present day symbols of the elements and the use of formulas for compounds (1814). He pioneered the determination of accurate atomic weights (1817) and contributed to the establishment of Dalton's theory. He discovered cerium in the oxide ceria (1803), selenium (1817), silicon (1823), and thorium (1828). He was widely known throughout Europe and drew many students to his laboratory, among them Rose and Wöhler. He also wrote a textbook and published annual reports on chemistry. These had a profound effect on chemical thought that extends even to the present time. |
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