Svante Arrhenius

Svante August Arrhenius (19 February 1859 – 2 October 1927) was a Swedish physicist and chemist who is best known for his theory that electrolytes are separated into ions in solution, a fundamental concept in physical chemistry. His work laid the foundation for the understanding of chemical kinetics, electrochemistry, and the theory of global warming due to the greenhouse effect. Arrhenius was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1903 for his electrolytic theory of dissociation.

Early Life and Education

Svante Arrhenius was born in Vik, Sweden, to Svante Gustav and Carolina Thunberg Arrhenius. He showed an early interest in science, particularly in physics and mathematics, and was recognized for his intelligence from a young age. Arrhenius attended the University of Uppsala, where he initially studied mathematics, but his interest soon shifted to chemistry. He completed his doctorate in 1884, presenting a thesis on the conductivity of electrolytes, which laid the groundwork for his later, more famous work.

Career and Research

After completing his doctorate, Arrhenius worked in several laboratories across Europe, including those of notable scientists such as Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald and Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff, who were also pioneers in the field of physical chemistry. It was during this period that Arrhenius developed his theory of electrolytic dissociation, which posits that salts and other electrolytes dissociate into positively and negatively charged ions when dissolved in water. This theory was initially met with skepticism but was eventually accepted and became a cornerstone of physical chemistry.

Arrhenius also made significant contributions to other areas of science. He was one of the first scientists to propose that the Earth's temperature could be affected by the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, thereby anticipating the concept of the greenhouse effect and global warming. Additionally, Arrhenius studied the rates of chemical reactions, formulating the Arrhenius equation, which describes the temperature dependence of reaction rates.

Later Life and Legacy

Throughout his career, Arrhenius received numerous awards and honors, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1903. He was also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and served as the director of the Nobel Institute for Physical Chemistry from 1905 until his death in 1927.

Arrhenius's work has had a lasting impact on science, particularly in the fields of chemistry and environmental science. His theories on electrolytic dissociation and the greenhouse effect are still relevant today, and his contributions to the study of chemical kinetics remain a fundamental part of physical chemistry.

Selected Works

• Über die Dissociation der in Wasser gelösten Stoffe (1884)
• Textbook of Electrochemistry (1902)
• Worlds in the Making: The Evolution of the Universe (1908), where he discussed his theories on the greenhouse effect

Death

Svante Arrhenius passed away on 2 October 1927 in Stockholm, Sweden. His legacy continues to influence the scientific community, particularly in the areas of physical chemistry and environmental science.