Wilhelm Ostwald

Wilhelm Ostwald
Ostwald c. 1883
Born
Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald

2 September [O.S. 21 August] 1853
Died4 April 1932(1932-04-04) (aged 78)
Großbothen, Amtshauptmannschaft Grimma, Saxony, Weimar Republic
Alma materImperial University of Dorpat
Known for
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsPhysical chemistry
Institutions
Doctoral advisorCarl Schmidt
Doctoral students

Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald (German pronunciation: [ˈvɪlhɛlm ˈɔstˌvalt] ; 2 September [O.S. 21 August] 1853 – 4 April 1932) was a Baltic 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).