Justus Von Liebig
Charlie Pott
Early Childhood
How he Became Interested
Hardships
Contributions
Liebig revolutionized organic analysis using a five-bulb device called the “Kaliapparat”. He understated the importance of humus in plant nutrition and maintained that plants feed upon nitrogen compounds, carbon dioxide from air, and some minerals found in the soil. He was the first person the invent a nitrogen-based fertilizer. Liebig also devised the Law of the Minimum. Liebig was one of the true forefathers of modern agriculture.
Liebig burned an organic compound with copper oxide and identified the oxidation products (water vapour and carbon dioxide) by weighing them, directly after absorption, in a tube of calcium chloride and in a specially designed five-bulb apparatus containing caustic potash. This procedure, perfected in 1831, allowed the carbon content of organic compounds to be determined to a greater precision than previously known. Moreover, his technique was simple and quick, allowing chemists to run six or seven analyses per day as opposed to that number per week with older methods.
Awards
Video
Sources
http://www.famousscientists.org/justus-von-liebig/
"Justus Von Liebig." Famous Scientists. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014.
Brock, William H. "Foundations of Organic Chemistry." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014.
http://www.josephsmithacademy.org/wiki/baron-justus-von-liebig/
"Baron Justus Von Liebig." Inspira Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014.