Adolph Wilhelm Hermann Kolbe

Adolph Wilhelm Hermann Kolbe (September 27, 1818 – November 25, 1884) was a chemist.

Related Topics:
September 27 - 1818 - November 25 - 1884 - Chemist

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Kolbe was born in Elliehausen near Hanover, Germany.

Related Topics:
Hanover - Germany

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He became an assistant to Robert Wilhelm Bunsen at the University of Marburg in 1842, after studying chemistry with Friedrich Wöhler. Subsequently he assisted Lyon Playfair at the University of London and from 1847 to 1851 was engaged in editing the Handwörterbuch der reinen und angewandten Chemie (Dictionary of Pure and Applied Chemistry) written by Justus von Liebig and Wöhler. Kolbe then succeeded Bunsen at Marburg, and in 1865 he went to the University of Leipzig.

Related Topics:
Robert Wilhelm Bunsen - University of Marburg - 1842 - Chemistry - Friedrich Wöhler - Lyon Playfair - London - Justus von Liebig - Leipzig

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At that time, it was believed that organic and inorganic compounds are independent from each other, and that organic compounds could be created only by living organisms. Kolbe believed that organic compounds could be derived from inorganic ones, directly or indirectly, by substitution processes. He validated his theory by converting carbon disulfide, in several steps, to acetic acid (1843-45). Introducing a modified idea of structural radicals, he contributed to the establishment of structural theory. He also predicted the existence of secondary and tertiary alcohols.

Related Topics:
Inorganic compound - Organic compound - Carbon disulfide - Acetic acid - Radicals - Structural theory - Alcohol

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He worked on the electrolysis of the salts of fatty and other acids (Kolbe electrolysis) and prepared salicylic acid, a building block of aspirin in a process called Kolbe synthesis or Kolbe-Schmitt reaction.

Related Topics:
Electrolysis - Fatty - Acid - Kolbe electrolysis - Salicylic acid - Aspirin - Kolbe synthesis - Kolbe-Schmitt reaction

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With Edward Frankland he found that nitriles can be hydrolyzed to the corresponding acids. As editor of the Journal für praktische Chemie (Journal of practical chemistry, 1869), he was sometimes severely critical of the work of others.

Related Topics:
Edward Frankland - Nitrile

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He died in Leipzig, Germany

Related Topics:
Leipzig - Germany

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