Ludwig Gattermann
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Gattermann was a German
chemist
who contributed significantly to both organic
and inorganic chemistry
.
, an old mining town north of the Harz
mountains. Two of his three siblings died at a young age.
During his time in the Realschule
he started experimenting. In 1880, he wanted to study at the University of Leipzig
, but he had to complete his compulsory military service
before he could start. He started his studies in 1881. After one year with Robert Bunsen
at the University of Leipzig, he visited Liebermann for one semester at the University of Berlin to improve his skills in organic chemistry. Gattermann chose the University of Göttingen, which was close to Goslar for his further studies.
He started his thesis under the supervision of Hans Hübner, who died in 1884, and finished his Ph.D. in 1885. As successor of Hans Hübner, Victor Meyer came to Göttingen and some renown chemists worked as assistants in his group, like Rudolf Leuckart
, Emil Knoevenagel
, Traugott Sandmeyer
and Karl von Auwers
.
His private life in Heidelberg and Freiburg was overshadowed by his problematic 25 year long marriage which was divorced. Gattermann had one daughter who cared for him during his illness which caused his death on June 20, 1920.
starting in 1888 and working perfectly for 32 years, which gave Gatterman an insight into industrial chemistry and provided him with access to chemical compounds produced by Bayer.
Gattermann conducted the practical education of the students in the laboratory for several years, till the suicide of Victor Meyer. He stayed with the successor of Meyer, Theodor Curtius
, for two further years until 1900 in Heidelberg.
in 1900. He improved the educational situation and was mainly involved in organisation and teaching. The results of his personal research get sparse and most of the publications come from his PhD students.
in 1887 showed his excellent abilities in the laboratory. B21,751,1888 His nickname "der Heros" was coined after an English article title a hero of science reporting about nitrogen trichloride.
The production of boron and silicon by the reaction with magnesium yielded amorphous powders which were more reactive and easier to handle than the substances.
The improved Sandmeyer reaction using metallic copper as catalyst, and the discovery of the reaction of hydrocyanic acid with an aromatic compound now called the Gatterman reaction were achieved during his time in Heidelberg.
He also conducted research in inorganic chemistry. Gatterman synthesized and characterized Si2Cl6 , Si3Cl8 and also the selfigniting P2H4.
His fearless nature towards the highly toxic hydrocyanic acid can be best be shown by a quotation from him: If you are used to handling the substance it is no worse than handling alcohol.
His book is mentioned in Primo Levi's autobiography IF THIS IS A MAN when it comes up in discussion during his Chemist interview at Buna synthetic rubber factory at Auschwitz during the Holocaust.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
who contributed significantly to both organic
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
and inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds. This field covers all chemical compounds except the myriad organic compounds , which are the subjects of organic chemistry...
.
Early life
Ludwig Gatterman was born on April 20, 1860 in GoslarGoslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
, an old mining town north of the Harz
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
mountains. Two of his three siblings died at a young age.
During his time in the Realschule
Realschule
The Realschule is a type of secondary school in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It has also existed in Croatia , Denmark , Sweden , Hungary and in the Russian Empire .-History:The Realschule was an outgrowth of the rationalism and empiricism of the seventeenth and...
he started experimenting. In 1880, he wanted to study at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, but he had to complete his compulsory military service
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
before he could start. He started his studies in 1881. After one year with Robert Bunsen
Robert Bunsen
Robert Wilhelm Eberhard Bunsen was a German chemist. He investigated emission spectra of heated elements, and discovered caesium and rubidium with Gustav Kirchhoff. Bunsen developed several gas-analytical methods, was a pioneer in photochemistry, and did early work in the field of organoarsenic...
at the University of Leipzig, he visited Liebermann for one semester at the University of Berlin to improve his skills in organic chemistry. Gattermann chose the University of Göttingen, which was close to Goslar for his further studies.
He started his thesis under the supervision of Hans Hübner, who died in 1884, and finished his Ph.D. in 1885. As successor of Hans Hübner, Victor Meyer came to Göttingen and some renown chemists worked as assistants in his group, like Rudolf Leuckart
Rudolf Leuckart
Karl Georg Friedrich Rudolf Leuckart was a German zoologist who was born in Helmstedt. He was a nephew to naturalist Friedrich Sigismund Leuckart ....
, Emil Knoevenagel
Emil Knoevenagel
Heinrich Emil Albert Knoevenagel was the German chemist who established the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The Knoevenagel condensation reaction of benzaldehydes with nitroalkanes is a classic general method for the preparation of nitroalkenes, which are very valuable synthetic...
, Traugott Sandmeyer
Traugott Sandmeyer
Traugott Sandmeyer was a Swiss chemist after whom the Sandmeyer reaction, which he discovered 1884, was named. He became a professor of organic chemistry, although he never graduated with a degree in chemistry....
and Karl von Auwers
Karl von Auwers
Karl Friedrich von Auwers was a German chemist and the academic adviser of Karl Ziegler and Georg Wittig at the University of Marburg.-Life:...
.
His private life in Heidelberg and Freiburg was overshadowed by his problematic 25 year long marriage which was divorced. Gattermann had one daughter who cared for him during his illness which caused his death on June 20, 1920.
Göttingen
During his time as assistant of Victor Meyer in Göttingen, Victor Meyer established a cooperation with the dyes company of Friedr. Bayer & Co., later known as Bayer AG, and especially with the chief chemist Carl DuisbergCarl Duisberg
Friedrich Carl Duisberg was a German chemist and industrialist.-Life:He was born in Barmen, Germany and from 1879 until 1882 he studied at the "Georg-August-Universität " and Friedrich Schiller University of Jena and received his doctorate .After military service in Munich, which he combined with...
starting in 1888 and working perfectly for 32 years, which gave Gatterman an insight into industrial chemistry and provided him with access to chemical compounds produced by Bayer.
Heidelberg
He followed Victor Meyer, who succeeded Robert Bunsen, to the University of Heidelberg in 1889.Gattermann conducted the practical education of the students in the laboratory for several years, till the suicide of Victor Meyer. He stayed with the successor of Meyer, Theodor Curtius
Theodor Curtius
- External links :* * * *...
, for two further years until 1900 in Heidelberg.
Freiburg
Gattermann became professor at the University of FreiburgUniversity of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
in 1900. He improved the educational situation and was mainly involved in organisation and teaching. The results of his personal research get sparse and most of the publications come from his PhD students.
Research
His dangerous analysis of the highly explosive nitrogen trichlorideNitrogen trichloride
Nitrogen trichloride, also known as trichloramine, is the chemical compound with the formula NCl3. This yellow, oily, pungent-smelling liquid is most commonly encountered as a byproduct of chemical reactions between ammonia-derivatives and chlorine .In pure form, NCl3 is highly reactive...
in 1887 showed his excellent abilities in the laboratory. B21,751,1888 His nickname "der Heros" was coined after an English article title a hero of science reporting about nitrogen trichloride.
The production of boron and silicon by the reaction with magnesium yielded amorphous powders which were more reactive and easier to handle than the substances.
The improved Sandmeyer reaction using metallic copper as catalyst, and the discovery of the reaction of hydrocyanic acid with an aromatic compound now called the Gatterman reaction were achieved during his time in Heidelberg.
He also conducted research in inorganic chemistry. Gatterman synthesized and characterized Si2Cl6 , Si3Cl8 and also the selfigniting P2H4.
His fearless nature towards the highly toxic hydrocyanic acid can be best be shown by a quotation from him: If you are used to handling the substance it is no worse than handling alcohol.
His Book
His book about practical work in the laboratory became a standard textbook of organic synthesis at almost every German university. In some universities the organic course is still called "Gattermann".His book is mentioned in Primo Levi's autobiography IF THIS IS A MAN when it comes up in discussion during his Chemist interview at Buna synthetic rubber factory at Auschwitz during the Holocaust.