Marcellin Berthelot

See also: Berthelot

Pierre Eugene Marcellin Berthelot , born the October 25th 1827 with Paris and dead the March 18th 1907, is a chemist, essay writer, historian of sciences and politician French.

Biography

Resulting from a father doctor and convinced republican, Berthelot made brilliant studies with the Lycée Henri-Iv, being interested inter alia in the history and philosophy. It is there that it became acquainted with Renan which had left the seminar and worked in this establishment as Master of studies; they tied a friendship which was to last until death. Indeed, it is with the Faculty of Science of Paris that it entered thereafter. He began really his research in the private laboratory from Theophilus-Jules Pelouze, where he could test with his own way. He entered to the Collège de France as preparer of Antoine-Jerome Balard, his former Master, in 1851.

Like several other chemists of its time, Berthelot began its research on organic compounds of rather complex nature. It obtained its doctorate in 1854 thanks to its thesis on the structure and the synthesis of greases and on the combinations of glycerol with the acids. Berthelot made on the syntheses much profitable research. But the field of its interests was extremely broad, and he is also the author of historical studies on the alchemists of the Middle Ages. Berthelot was professor at the University of pharmacy in 1859, chemistry teacher organic at the Collège de France in 1865, a pulpit which one created with his intention. He was general inspector of higher education in 1876. He occupied the following ministerial functions:

The death of Marcellin Berthelot is rather particular: he had many times repeated that it did not wish to survive his wife Sophie Niaudet, patient and, indeed, a few minutes after the disappearance of this one, the March 18th 1907, it died out itself.

Its scientific jubilee was celebrated solemnly. Eager to honor the great man, but fascinating act of the circumstances of its disappearance, the government, which decided the transfer of ashes of Marcellin Berthelot to the the Pantheon, estimated logical not to separate it from its wife, who was buried with him: it is thus the first woman entered to the Pantheon. For this occasion, Clemenceau, always caustic, would have declared: Ci-to lie Marcellin Berthelot. It is the only place which he never requested .

Marcellin Berthelot is the father of the diplomat Philippe Berthelot, of the banker, business man and encyclopedist André Berthelot, of the chemist Daniel Berthelot, the philosopher Rene Berthelot. He is also the back great-uncle of Rene Berthelot, old directing of the academy of Orleans, type-setter, leader, and violoncellist.

Contributions

  • Its work in thermochemistry
  • Its work on the reaction of Esterification
  • Its theses on the compounds of synthesis,
  • Its research on heat, the principle of combustion,
  • Its research on the Saponification of the greasy substances, on glycerin,
all still useful work nowadays.

Its contribution is sometimes discussed today, in reaction to the Positivisme and the Scientisme which had course at its time. According to Claude Allègre, the assessment of Marcellin Berthelot is tarnished by the fact that he did not recognize the concept of Atome S. One allots this sentence besides to him: “The world does not have any more a mystery! ”

Works

  • Introduction to the chemistry of Old the (1889)

Distinctions

Electoral mandate

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