VICENTE ORTIGOZA: BIOGRAPHY AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHEMISTRY - CHEMISTRY - 2025

José Vicente Ortigoza de los Ríos was an important scientist in Mexican public life and the pride of Tepiqueños for being the first Mexican to specialize in organic chemistry. Ortigoza was born on April 5, 1817 in the city of Tepic, capital of the state of Nayarit, in the coastal region located in the west of the country on the Pacific Ocean.

His area of ​​expertise was the study of the alkaloid in tobacco: nicotine. Ortigoza's work includes the isolation of this compound and its detailed analysis. He is considered a promoter of industrial, social and educational progress in Jalisco, thanks to the significance of his work.

Image of a 19th century chemical laboratory

Biography

Studies

From his hometown and with the support and consent of the family, the young José Vicente Ortigoza moved to Guadalajara (capital of the state of Jalisco) in order to advance in his studies and deepen his knowledge in the academic field. Once in the city, he manages to enroll in the prestigious Jalisco Institute of Sciences.

Specialization

Since 1840, Ortigoza has traveled to European territory to study the subject that fascinated him: organic chemistry. At the University of Giessen, Germany, he became the first Mexican specialized in organic chemistry in the entire world, when this science was still incipient.

While still in that house of studies and before deciding what would be the topic for the research of his thesis, he received the teachings of Professor Justus Von Liebig. With him he began his basic experiments on nicotine, a subject with which he would become known worldwide.

Teachings of Justus Von Liebig

Ortigoza was fortunate to have among his main tutors Professor Justus Von Liebig, which made him gain worldwide prestige.

Von Liegib was a famous scholar for his time thanks to the chemical research he carried out and then carried out (applied chemical research). One of the main areas in which he began to apply the knowledge obtained in his studies was in agriculture and industry.

The knowledge of this renowned teacher was used by Vicente Ortigoza, who came to be characterized as a restless student eager for wisdom.

Thesis tutoring

It is this professor who directs a large part of Ortigoza's studies and who serves as his tutor for his final university research. It had as its central theme the isolation and analysis of the tobacco alkaloid, that is, nicotine.

The first important job you do, even when you are in the process of training, would be the most important job of your life. This research was the one that deserved the merits in the history of chemistry that are still recognized today.

Ortigoza's contributions to chemistry

Ortigoza's contributions to chemistry made his name indelible and even eternalized, since some prominent institutions, both inside and outside of Mexico, have been baptized with his name.

Ortigoza begins his invaluable contributions to chemistry from the moment of the completion of his thesis during his studies in Europe. As a subject to complete her studies, she chooses to experiment with the isolation and analysis of the tobacco alkaloid.

The alkaloids, central theme of Ortigoza

In simple words, we can define alkaloids as the first active ingredients that are isolated from their natural source. And this was the central theme of Vicente Ortigoza's research on tobacco.

Ortigoza achieved the objective of the research, and after isolating and analyzing the nicotine in tobacco, he gave it the crude formula of C ₁₀ H ₁₆ N _2.

On the other hand, Ortigoza was based on previous studies of scientists and managed to determine the empirical formula of coniína. This is the main alkaloid in hemlock.

In fact, in 1827 the scientist Giesecke managed to separate coniin from hemlock for the first time in history, but it was Vicente Ortigoza who determined empirically and with the knowledge that the formula C ₈ H ₁₆ N.

Studies on nicotine

From his studies, Ortigoza gave the world the gift of knowledge to improve the quality of life of people. After in-depth chemical studies on nicotine, Ortigoza came to determine that the addictive effects it has on human beings mainly influence the mesolimbic system.

He also came to the conclusion that nicotine is a very addictive drug for humans, even being fatal. What Ortigoza may not have known is that the tobacco industry was going to gain so much power in the world and that, in general, the important information discovered by him would be dismissed.

Other contributions

Agricultural and textile industry

In addition to his important time in Germany, Ortigoza studied at the Polytechnic School of Paris, where he specialized as a civil engineer. This knowledge takes them back to their homeland to put them into practice.

Upon his return to Mexico, Ortigoza buys some implements and dedicates himself fully to contributing his knowledge closely to the agricultural and textile industry. To do this, it acquires the El Salvador flour mill and buys shares in the textile companies La Experience and Atemajac.

In addition, Ortigoza created the Practical School of Agriculture and gave a boost to the Philanthropic Society of Jalisco and the Company of Artisans of Guadalajara.

Politics

As if that were not enough, this versatile character also contributed his knowledge in the field of Mexican politics as a legislator in the 1940s, and with his administrative knowledge during the 1960s and 1970s.

Ortigoza's legacy

Ortigoza was part of a group of Mexicans who left their country to obtain knowledge that, due to different circumstances, they could not obtain in their native land, and once they had obtained it, they offered it in their country in favor of their societies.

Vicente Ortigoza died at 59 years of age in the city of Guadalajara on January 3, 1877. He left a great contribution to chemistry and became one of the greatest prides of Guadalajara and Tepic.

References

1. Lean, Felipe and others. Recovered at: izt.uam.mx
2. Macías Mora, Bernardo. José Vicente Ortigosa de los Ríos, a notable Tepican scientist in the 19th century (2017). Informative Focus Newspaper. Recovered at: focusnayarit.com
3. Romo de Vivar, Alfonso. Chemistry of the Mexican Flora. Research at the Institute of Chemistry. Recovered at: books.google.co.ve
4. He had N., Guillermo. Studies on tobacco: The alkaloids. Recovered in: digibug.ugr.es
5. De la Torre, Federico. Industrial chemistry and training of engineers. Recovered from: books.google.co.ve