author
friherre Jöns Jakob Berzelius
1779–1848
A pioneer of modern chemistry, he helped turn the subject into a precise science by introducing the chemical symbols and atomic-weight work that shaped how chemistry is still written and taught. His influence spread far beyond Sweden through textbooks, experiments, and decades of leadership in European science.
1 Audiobook
Nova analysis aquarum Medeviensium
by friherre Jöns Jakob Berzelius
About the author
Born in Sweden in 1779, Berzelius trained in medicine but devoted much of his life to chemistry. He became one of the central figures in the field during the early 19th century, and many historians place him among the founders of modern chemistry.
He is especially remembered for developing the modern system of chemical notation that uses letters to represent elements, and for his careful work on atomic weights and chemical analysis. He also isolated or identified several elements, including cerium, selenium, and thorium, and helped establish the language chemists use to describe compounds and reactions.
Beyond the laboratory, he served for many years as secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, wrote influential textbooks and annual reports, and helped connect scientists across Europe. He was later given the title of friherre, or baron, and died in Stockholm in 1848.