 1493 - Paracelsus born: founder of iatrochemistry (the application of chemistry to medicine); developed a cure for St. Vitus disease; believed the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) were present in substances as three principles: mercury (volatility and fusibility), sulfur (inflammability), and salt (incombustibility). |
| 1824 - Alexander W. Williamson born: alcohols and ethers (synthesis of ethers, with important consequences in organic structure theory); suggested the notion that catalysis can proceed through intermediate compounds; synthesis of ethylene glycol. |
| 1825 - Johann Jakob Balmer born: Balmer series in hydrogen atom spectrum. |
| 1839 - Hilaire Bernigaud de Chardonnet born: invented rayon by forcing liquid nitrocellulose through fine glass capillaries. |
sources: http://webserver.lemoyne.edu/faculty/giunta/week.html, http://todayinsci.com
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