Justus von Liebig

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Freiherr Justus von Liebig (May 12, 1803 in Darmstadt, Germany - April 18, 1873 in Munich, Germany) was a German chemist. He made major contributions to agricultural and biological chemistry, and worked on the organization of organic chemistry.

Related Topics:
Freiherr - May 12 - 1803 - Darmstadt - Germany - April 18 - 1873 - Munich - Chemist

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He was expelled from his Gymnasium for detonating an explosive device he had made at home from chemicals obtained from his father's business. He was apprenticed to an apothecary in Heppenheim.

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Liebig went to the University of Bonn, to study with Karl Wilhelm Gottlob Kastner. When Kastner moved to the University of Erlangen, Liebig followed him and received his doctorate there in 1822. He then received a grant from the Hessian government to study in Paris. Through the influence of Alexander von Humboldt he was able to work in the private laboratory of Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac.

Related Topics:
Bonn - Karl Wilhelm Gottlob Kastner - Erlangen - 1822 - Hessian - Paris - Alexander von Humboldt - Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac

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In 1824 at the age of 21, he became professor at the University of Giessen. He was a professor at the University of Munich from 1852 to 1873. He became Freiherr (baron) in 1845. Liebig improved organic analysis, and discovered that plants feed on the nitrogen (actually microbes do the conversions to nitrogen compounds) and carbon dioxide in the air, as well as on minerals in the soil. One of his most famous accomplishments was the invention of nitrogen-based fertilizer. He was also one of the first chemists to organize a laboratory as we know it today. The vapor condensation device he popularized for his research is still known as a "liebig condenser", although it was in common use long before Liebig's research began. In 1835 he invented a process for silvering that greatly improved the utility of mirrors.

Related Topics:
1824 - University of Giessen - Munich - 1852 - 1873 - 1845 - Nitrogen - Microbes - Carbon dioxide - Fertilizer - Liebig condenser - 1835 - Silvering - Mirror

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Liebig is also credited with the notion that "Searing meat seals in the juices."{{ref|mcgee}} This idea, still widely believed, is not true. (See Searing for further discussion.)

Related Topics:
Searing

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In 1865 he founded the Liebig Extract of Meat Company which produced beef extract, an innovation of his, as a cheap, nutritious alternative to real meat.

Related Topics:
Liebig Extract of Meat Company - Beef extract

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The University of Giessen today is officially named after him, "Justus-Liebig-Universität-Giessen".

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