Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner (1780-1849) was a German chemist who discovered ways to organize chemical elements three by three, based on their atomic characteristics. These ways of organizing the elements are called Döbereiner Triads.
The triads were the greatest contribution of this scientist, because they are the antecedent of the ordering of the chemical elements in the periodic table that is known today. It is also known for the Döbereiner lamp, which was marketed from 1880 on.
Döbereiner's life was very interesting, since his interest in science was very evident from an early age. He devoted himself to the study of chemistry and his research bore fruit, since they greatly collaborated to modify the conception of the time in relation to chemical elements.
From their studies, it was possible to detect similarities between some components and, thanks to this new order, it was possible to study the chemical elements in a more effective way and in greater depth.
But, in addition to the Döbereiner Triads, this German scientist left other contributions of great importance to science today.
Next, some of the most relevant aspects of his life and the characteristics of his most important contributions to the scientific field will be mentioned.
The life of Johann Döbereiner
Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner was born in Jena (Germany) on December 13, 1780 and died on March 24, 1849, at the age of 69.
His father, Johann Adam Döbereiner, worked as a coachman, which meant that Döbereiner did not have many training opportunities within the formal system.
However, he was self-taught and, in addition, had the accompaniment of his mother, Johanna Susanna Göring, in his learning process. In 1794, when he was 14 years old, Döbereiner went to see the local apothecary, at the initiative of his mother, and became his apprentice.
From this experience he obtained a lot of knowledge, being able to later enter the University of Jena, where he attended several courses.
From 1810, Döbereiner began teaching as an assistant professor and later became the supervisor of the area of scientific studies at the University of Jena.
Main contributions
During his years at the University of Jena, he developed different studies in relation to the properties of chemical elements. His contributions include the identification of the catalytic properties of platinum and, based on these studies, the design of the first portable lighter.
But his most relevant contribution was the so-called Döbereiner Triads, which were the antecedents of the periodic table that is known today.
The characteristics of the most important contributions attributed to Johann Döbereiner will be detailed below:
Döbereiner lamp
This lighter represents the application of platinum as a catalyst. The apparatus consisted of a glass cylinder, inside it was an open bottle, which hung in the center of the cylinder.
Inside the suspended bottle hung a thread that had a zinc part at the lower end. At the top of the cylinder was a stopcock, a nozzle, and a platinum sponge.
The lamp worked by stimulation of hydrogen, which was generated as a result of the action of zinc inside the cylinder.
Hydrogen comes out through the nozzle, comes into contact with the platinum located on the outside of the cylinder, is heated by the action of oxygen with the platinum, and fire arises.
This invention appeared in 1823, and was widely marketed until 1880. It was in great demand during the time it was on the market, reaching over a million lamps sold.
The disadvantages of this invention were the materials: hydrogen is a dangerous gas, because it is extremely flammable, it can cause explosions and, if inhaled in large quantities, it can generate oxygen starvation.
On the other hand, platinum was a very expensive material, so it was not profitable or practical to continue to market the Döbereiner lamp.
However, some of these artifacts are still preserved today, which are considered collector's items, since this invention is considered the first portable lighter created.
Döbereiner triads
The Döbereiner Triads constitute the greatest contribution of this German chemist. The intention of this study was to find a way to order the chemical elements known until then, in order to study and understand them in a better way.
Döbereiner inquired about the different relationships that linked the elements to each other. In his research he found very particular similarities between groups of chemical elements.
Since 1817, this scientist stated that there were similar characteristics between certain elements. Thus, in 1827 he made his arguments concrete when he discovered that similar elements could be grouped into sets of three.
His studies focused on the atomic masses of the elements; that is, in the total masses of the protons and neutrons that make up the atoms.
Döbereiner realized that he could link three different chemical elements taking into account their atomic masses.
For example, Döbereiner linked chlorine, bromine, and iodine by realizing that adding the atomic masses of chlorine and iodine and dividing them by two, the resulting number is very close to the value of the atomic mass of bromine.
The same happened with other elements, such as sulfur, selenium and tellurium; and lithium, sodium and potassium; and calcium, strontium, and barium. And as more chemical elements were discovered, the triads increased.
So, Döbereiner's premise was that the atomic masses of the chemical elements located at the ends of the triad were directly related to the atomic mass of the element that was in the middle.
It is considered that, from these notions, the concept of "chemical families" was subsequently generated, a criterion that refers to the series of elements that have similar characteristics and properties.
The Döbereiner Triads are also considered the first successful approach to the current arrangement of the elements in the periodic table that is used today, because it was the first initiative to organize the elements based on the particularities of their compounds and qualities.
References
- "Döbereiner's triads" on BBC. Retrieved on August 17, 2017 from BBC: bbc.co.uk.
- "Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner" at the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo. Retrieved on August 17, 2017 from the University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo: upra.edu.
- "Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner" in Biography. Retrieved on August 17, 2017 from Biography: biography.com.
- "Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner" in Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved on August 17, 2017 from Encyclopedia Britannica: britannica.com.
- "Döbereiner, Johann Wolfgang" in Encyclopedia. Retrieved on August 17, 2017 from Encyclopedia: encyclopedia.com.
- Esteban, S. "The History of the Periodic System" (2010) in Google Books. Retrieved on August 17, 2017 from Google Books: books.google.co.ve.
- "Döbereiner's Lamp - Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner and History of the First Lighter" in History of Matches. Retrieved on August 17, 2017 from History of Matches: historyofmatches.com.
- "Evolution of lighters" in Tobacco Only. Retrieved on August 17, 2017 from Only Tobacco: solotabaco.com.
- Chavez, G. "Dangers of hydrogen gas" in Muy Fitness. Retrieved on August 17, 2017 from Muy Fitness: muyfitness.com.