1. ROBERT W. BUNSEN 1811-1899) (1811-1899) Robert Wilhelm Bunsen was a prominent German chemist, who, along with the German physicist Gustav Robert Kirchoff, invented the spectroscope. Together, they also discovered spectrum analysis, which lead to their discovery of the elements cesium and rubidium. Robert Bunsen is remembered by most chemistry students for a familiar piece of laboratory equipment, the bunsen burner. Unfortunately, the bunsen burner was not invented by Robert Bunsen! The other contributions to the field of chemistry made by Robert Bunsen were vastly more significant and diverse. Robert Bunsen was born in Gottingen, Germany on March 31, 1811. An academic environment surrounded him from birth, for his father was a professor of modern languages at the Gottingen University. Bunsen studied chemistry at Gottingen University and received his doctorate at age 19. He was then given a three year travel grant, upon which he used to study in Berlin, Paris and Vienna. It was during this period that Bunsen discovered his love for geology. Bunsen’s teaching career was extensive; he taught at the Polytechnic Institute in Kassal and at various universities in the towns of Marsburg and Breslau before becoming a lecturer at his alma mater, Gottingen University. A bachelor all of his life, Bunsen was completely devoted to his research and teaching. Bunsen developed a number of personality quirks which became the topic of several anecdotes of his students, which they later published. Robert’s Bunsen’s most important work was in developing several techniques used in separating, identifying and measuring various chemical substances. He made a number of advances in chemical batteries for use of isolating quantities of pure metals - including one known as the Bunsen battery. Bunsen also developed the ice calorimeter, the filter pump and his famous grease-spot photometer, used in photochemical studies of the reaction between hydrogen and chlorine. His discovery of the use of iron oxide hydrate as a precipitating agent continues to be the best known anecdote against arsenic poisoning. In the process of discovering this anecdote, he lost sight in one of his eyes and nearly died of arsenic poisoning. Chem 292, Chemistry Outreach Spring 2001 Dr. David A. Boyles and Dr. M. Steven McDowell Sarah M. Rouse Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SD 57701 PROVIDED BY HTTP://MINERVA.CH.UNITO.IT/HUM OR/BUNSEN.HTM Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchoff met and became friends in 1851 while both were teaching at the University of Breslau. Together they developed and discovered many things. Bunsen retired from teaching in 1889. His research led to many discoveries in the field of chemistry. After his retirement, Bunsen left the chemical work behind and returned to his first scientific interest, geology. Robert Wilhelm Bunsen dies on August 16, 1899. References: http://www.chemheritage.org http://l.thinkquest.org/teachers/chemistry