August Kekulé and Dreams

Chemist

August Kekulé was a German chemist who is best known for his work on the structure of organic compounds, particularly his discovery of the benzene ring.

Born in 1829

Kekulé was born in Darmstadt, Germany in 1829. He began his studies in chemistry at the University of Heidelberg, where he was taught by Robert Bunsen, and later moved to the University of Giessen to study under Justus von Liebig. In 1856, he received his doctorate from the University of Berlin with a thesis on the chemistry of terpenes.

Professor of Chemistry

After completing his studies, Kekulé worked as a professor of chemistry at several universities, including the University of Heidelberg and the University of Strasbourg. 

A Dream Led to Understanding Benzene

In 1865, while he was teaching at the University of Strasbourg, he had an epiphany while daydreaming in front of a fire. He imagined a snake biting its own tail, and realized that this image represented the structure of the chemical compound benzene. This discovery was a major breakthrough in the field of organic chemistry, as it provided a way to understand the structures of many other organic compounds.

Became a Foundation of Organic Chemistry

Kekulé's discovery of the benzene ring was not immediately accepted by the scientific community, as it went against the prevailing theory of the day that all compounds were composed of atoms that were joined in straight lines. However, over time, more and more evidence was found to support Kekulé's theory, and it eventually became the foundation of modern organic chemistry.

Proposed the Concept of Isomers

Kekulé's work on the structure of organic compounds was not limited to the benzene ring. He also proposed the concept of isomers, which are compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas, and he was one of the first chemists to suggest that the double and triple bonds in organic compounds were not simply composed of two or three single bonds, but instead were composed of a sigma and pi bond.

His Work Revolutionized the Field of Chemistry

Kekulé died in 1896, but his contributions to the field of chemistry continue to be celebrated today. The Kekulé structure, as the cyclic structure of benzene is commonly known, is taught in introductory chemistry courses worldwide and is considered a fundamental concept in organic chemistry. His work on the structure of organic compounds revolutionized the field and paved the way for many future discoveries in chemistry.

A Pioneer and a Dreamer

In conclusion, August Kekulé was a pioneering chemist who made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry through his discovery of the benzene ring and his work on isomers and chemical bonding. His work continues to be an important foundation for modern chemistry and is celebrated worldwide.

A Famous Kekulé Quote

Let us learn to dream, gentlemen; then we shall perhaps find the truth.

Image by Htc Erl from Pixabay 

Image from Wikipedia