Carl Wilhelm Scheele
Who was Carl Wilhelm Scheele?
Swedish German chemist who discovered oxygen
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Carl Wilhelm Scheele (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742–1786) was a German-Swedish pharmacist who made significant discoveries in chemistry in the 18th century. Born in Stralsund, which was then part of Swedish Pomerania, Scheele made important contributions to chemistry even though he worked mainly as a pharmacist in small Swedish towns. He is best known for discovering oxygen, which he called 'fire air', although Joseph Priestley published similar findings first and initially received credit. Scheele also discovered several elements and compounds that were new to science.
During his career, Scheele discovered chemical elements like molybdenum, tungsten, barium, nitrogen, and chlorine. His careful approach to experiments helped him discover and describe various organic acids, such as tartaric, oxalic, uric, lactic, and citric acids, as well as inorganic acids like hydrofluoric, hydrocyanic, and arsenic acids. These discoveries were made using simple lab equipment in his pharmacy, showing his skill in experimentation and analysis.
Scheele studied at Uppsala University and later worked as a pharmacist in Köping, Sweden, where he did most of his research. Although he lived in Sweden for most of his life, he preferred speaking German, which was common among Swedish pharmacists at the time. Despite working away from Europe's major scientific centers, his work was recognized and respected by the leading chemists of his day.
Scheele married Sara Margarethe Pohl, and his personal life was strongly connected to his work. His constant exposure to chemicals eventually led to his death at 43. Experts believe he died from mercury poisoning, a result of his lifelong work with dangerous substances. His commitment to chemical research, despite the risks, shows the spirit of scientific exploration typical of the Enlightenment period.
Before Fame
Born in Stralsund in 1742, Scheele grew up during the Enlightenment when scientific discovery was thriving in Europe. The 18th century was a time of rapid progress in chemistry and natural philosophy, with scientists starting to use systematic methods to understand matter's makeup. Scheele's journey into chemistry began with pharmacy, one of the few practical ways for someone of his background to gain chemical knowledge.
His education at Uppsala University gave him a strong foundation in natural sciences, but he gained much of his chemical expertise through hands-on work in pharmacies. In 18th-century Sweden, pharmacists needed extensive knowledge of chemical processes since they prepared medications and chemical compounds from raw materials. This practical training equipped Scheele with the experimental skills and chemical intuition that led to his significant discoveries.
Key Achievements
- Discovered oxygen independently, calling it 'fire air'
- Identified multiple chemical elements including molybdenum, tungsten, barium, nitrogen, and chlorine
- Isolated numerous organic acids including tartaric, oxalic, uric, lactic, and citric acids
- Discovered several important inorganic acids including hydrofluoric, hydrocyanic, and arsenic acids
- Advanced pharmaceutical chemistry through systematic experimental methods
Did You Know?
- 01.He discovered oxygen by heating mercuric oxide, calling it 'fire air' because it supported combustion so well
- 02.Scheele tasted many of the chemical compounds he discovered, a dangerous practice that likely contributed to his early death
- 03.He discovered chlorine gas but initially thought it was a compound containing oxygen rather than a pure element
- 04.His discovery of prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) was made while investigating the pigment Prussian blue
- 05.Scheele invented a green pigment called Scheele's Green, which became popular but was later found to be highly toxic due to its arsenic content