author
friherre Jöns Jakob Berzelius
1779–1848
A pioneering Swedish chemist, he helped turn chemistry into a precise modern science by introducing the chemical symbols and formulas still recognizable today. His work on atomic weights and newly identified elements made him one of the key builders of nineteenth-century chemistry.
1 Audiobook
Nova analysis aquarum Medeviensium
by friherre Jöns Jakob Berzelius
About the author
Born in 1779, Berzelius studied medicine at Uppsala University and went on to teach in Stockholm, where he became a professor at the institution that developed into the Karolinska Institute. He was also closely tied to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, serving it for many years and becoming one of the central scientific figures in Sweden.
He is best remembered as one of the founders of modern chemistry. Berzelius helped establish the system of chemical symbols and formulas, carried out influential work on atomic weights, and is credited with discovering or isolating several elements, including cerium, selenium, silicon, and thorium.
Made a baron late in life, he combined careful laboratory work with a gift for organizing scientific knowledge, which is one reason his influence lasted far beyond his own research. For listeners interested in the history of science, he stands out as a patient, methodical thinker who helped give chemistry the language it still uses.