Christian Samuel Weiss
Encyclopedia
Christian Samuel Weiss was a German mineralogist born in Leipzig
. After graduation he was a physics
instructor in Leipzig from 1803 until 1808. In 1810 he became a professor of mineralogy
at the University of Berlin.
Weiss is credited for creating parameters of modern crystallography
, and was instrumental in making it a branch of mathematical science. He stressed the significance of direction in crystals, considering crystallographic axes to be a possible basis for classification of crystals. He is credited for introducing the categorization schema of crystal system
s, and has a basic law of crystallography named after him called the "Weiss zone law".
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. After graduation he was a physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
instructor in Leipzig from 1803 until 1808. In 1810 he became a professor of mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
at the University of Berlin.
Weiss is credited for creating parameters of modern crystallography
Crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
, and was instrumental in making it a branch of mathematical science. He stressed the significance of direction in crystals, considering crystallographic axes to be a possible basis for classification of crystals. He is credited for introducing the categorization schema of crystal system
Crystal system
In crystallography, the terms crystal system, crystal family, and lattice system each refer to one of several classes of space groups, lattices, point groups, or crystals...
s, and has a basic law of crystallography named after him called the "Weiss zone law".
External links
- University of Cambridge DoITPoMS Teaching and Learning Packages (Weiss zone law explained)