Contents
Wilhelm Ostwald
Advancing physical chemistry and the study of catalysis.
Catalysis · Nitric acid production
- Born
- 2 September 1853
- Birthplace
- Riga
- Died
- 4 April 1932
More people
Wilhelm Ostwald
Wilhelm Ostwald was a Baltic German chemist who received the 1909 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work on catalysis, equilibria and reaction rates.
Early life
Education
Grew up in Riga and studied at the University of Dorpat, completing his doctorate in 1878.
Career
- 1881
Riga
Became professor of chemistry at the polytechnic.
- 1887
Leipzig
Took up a chair in physical chemistry.
- 1906
Retirement
Turned increasingly to philosophy, art and colour theory.
- 1909
Nobel Prize
Received the chemistry award.
Contributions
Catalysis
Helped clarify how catalysts change reaction rates.
Nitric acid production
Developed the process that bears his name.
Beyond research
Art and family
Painted and developed a system of colour classification. He and Helene von Reyher had five children.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Additional biographical or research source ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Nicola Perscheid. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.