August Wilhelm von Hoffmann

See also: Hoffmann

August Wilhelm von Hoffmann (April 8th 1818 - May 5th 1892) was a German Chimiste .

Hoffmann was born with Giessen in 1818. Not intending itself first of all for a scientific career, it starts by studying the Droit and the Philologie to Göttingen. It is directed then towards the Chimie which it studies under the direction of Justus von Liebig. In 1845, it is recruited like first director of a school incipient from practical chemistry with London under the supervision from the Royal College off Chemistry, nomination which it mainly owes in support of the Prince Consort, Albert of Saxony-Cobourg and Gotha, of German origin, and with the recommendation of Liebig. Hoffmann being then Privatdozent with Bonn, it is with a certain hesitation that it accepts this station which could appear precarious. This hesitation is drawn aside by its recruitment as professor in Bonn with a possibility of two years absence, which gives him the possibility of taking again its career in Germany if the station in England does not satisfy it. In fact, this new school proves to be a success, and a great number of the chemists who will be trained there will leave their names in the history of chemistry. In 1864, Hoffmann returns to Bonn, and the following year it is selected to succeed Eilhard Mitscherlich as chemistry teacher and director of the chemistry laboratory of the Université of Berlin. From 1880 to 1881, he was vice-chancellor of this university.

The scientific work of Hoffmann relates to mainly the Organic chemistry. Its first research, carried out in the laboratory of Liebig in Giessen, relates to the coal tar. Its work on the Naphtha and gas for domestic use obtained starting from the coal enables him to discover the Aniline. All its life it remains faithful to this compound which it calls its first love. Including/understanding the analogy between aniline and the Ammonia, he works on the amine S and the bases S ammonia-bearing, like on the organic compounds containing Phosphore, work which leads it to the first synthesis of rosaniline. This discovery is the first of a series of research concerning the coloured compounds, which is completed with the discovery of the Quinoléine (red) in 1887. William Perkin was student under its direction with the Royal College off Chemistry of London when he discovered the first dye containing aniline, the Mauvéine.

The Rearrangement of Hoffmann and the elimination of Hoffmann make it possible its name to remain in the history of the organic chemistry. It also developed the Voltamètre of Hoffmann in electrochemistry.

August Wilhelm von Hoffmann was prize winner of the Faraday Lectureship of the Royal society off chemistry, of the Royal Medal in 1854 and of the Médaille Copley in 1875. August Wilhelm von Hoffmann became member of the Royal Society the June 5th 1851.

Works

Here some of its works:

Carryforward one the chemical section off the Exhibition off London , 1862
Introduction to modern Chemistry , 1865
Bericht auf die Chemische Industry (in connection with the Exposure of Vienna), 1875-1877
Einleitung in die modern Chemie , 1877
Krystallis. Methylviolett. Phenilmelanine. Constitution of Melamins und der Cyanursäuren , 1885
Zur Geschichte of Cyanursäureäther , 1886.

One also owes him an edition of the Éléments of chemistry of Fownes.

Internal bonds

Antoine Béchamp

External bonds

Details of its work

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