Wilhelm Ostwald

Wilhelm Ostwald
Photograph of Ostwald c. 1913
Born
Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald

2 September [O.S. 21 August] 1853
Riga, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire
Died4 April 1932(1932-04-04) (aged 78)
Großbothen, Saxony, Weimar Republic
Alma materUniversity of Dorpat
Known for
See list
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry
Institutions
Doctoral students

Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald (German: [ˈvɪlhɛlm ˈɔstˌvalt] ; 2 September [O.S. 21 August] 1853 – 4 April 1932) was a German chemist and philosopher. Ostwald is credited with being one of the founders of the field of physical chemistry, with Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff, Walther Nernst and Svante Arrhenius.[1] He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1909 for his scientific contributions to the fields of catalysis, chemical equilibria and reaction velocities.[2]

Following his 1906 retirement from academic life, Ostwald became much involved in philosophy, art, and politics. He made significant contributions to each of these fields.[3] He has been described as a polymath.[4]

  1. ^ "Svante August Arrhenius". sciencehistory.org. Science History Institute. June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Wilhelm Ostwald Biographical". nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  3. ^ Kim, Mi Gyung (2006). "Wilhelm Ostwald (1853–1932)". International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry. 12 (1): 141. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ostwald Park was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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