Johann Rudolph Glauber

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Johann Rudolph Glauber

Johann Rudolph Glauber (born March 10, 1604 in Karlstadt ; † March 16, 1670 in Amsterdam ) was a pharmacist and alchemist who developed and used many new technical processes for the production of chemicals (extraction of nitric acid , sulfuric acid , hydrochloric acid , sodium sulfate (Glauber's salt)) considered a founder of the early chemical industry.

Life

Johann Rudolph Glauber was born in 1604 in Karlstadt, Franconia, as the son of a barber . His life began in an uncertain and warlike time. He came from a large family and was orphaned early. In his hometown he probably attended Latin school and completed an apprenticeship as a pharmacist . At the age of twenty-one he worked as a mirror maker , fell ill with typhus and recovered from spring water. Because of this decisive life experience, he decided to learn the medical art of healing for the benefit of other people. He lived and worked in Vienna (1625), Salzburg , Gießen , Wertheim (1649–1651), Kitzingen (1651–1655), Basel , Paris , Frankfurt am Main , Cologne and Amsterdam (1640–1644, 1646–1649 and from 1656). In 1644 Glauber took over the princely court pharmacy in Gießen. Then he moved to Bonn and from 1646 to Amsterdam. After the Peace of Westphalia he moved to Frankfurt a. M. He set up laboratories in Wertheim and Kitzingen and traded in wine products. He received a privilege from the elector to produce wine vinegar and tried to sell medicinal preparations. He wrote a large number of writings and around 40 books. After arguments, he left Kitzingen in 1654 and moved back to Amsterdam. Glauber had a large laboratory there with six employees and a garden in which he examined various mineral fertilizers.

In the course of his life, Glauber separated from his first wife because she had been unfaithful to him. He had eight children with his second wife, Helena Cornelius, whom he married in 1641. In 1656 he finally settled in Amsterdam . Glauber wrote his books in German with a Latin title. I like to confess / that I have never been to high schools / I am not interested in any ... So I do not regret it at all / that I put my hand in the coals of youth / and through this learn the hidden secrets of nature ...

For a long time (1660) Glauber suffered from an insidious disease, which was probably poisoning as a result of his experiments, probably with arsenic or mercury . Ultimately, the chemist, who was temporarily paralyzed and blinded by his illness, had to sell the equipment of his laboratory and parts of his library in 1668 in order to ensure the survival of his family. Glauber was bedridden from 1666 and died on March 16, 1670 in Amsterdam. In the Westerkerk of Amsterdam, his final resting place, a plaque commemorates his life and work.

Streets in Karlstadt , Kitzingen , Keltern , Eußenheim and Berlin are named after him, as is the moon crater Glauber

plant

Glauber described significant findings in the field of chemistry in the five-volume work Furni novi philosophici , Amsterdam 1648–1650.

However, he kept important processes that he had developed secret and only sold them to other users in return for payment.

Glauber produced sulfuric acid (presumably about 78% at that time) and sulphurous acid from iron sulphate, zinc sulphate, alum and glowing charcoal through dry, fractional distillation (the difficult-to-distill sulfuric acid could be separated from the volatile sulphurous acid - which was used as sulfur dioxide and water (( Spiritus volatilis vitroli)) passes over - to be separated) and recognized the equality of the distilling substances, which were not yet fully clarified at the time. Burning sulfur with air gave Glauber preferential sulfur dioxide, but it wasn't until 1775 that Joseph Priestley identified it as a type of gas based on its molecular mass. The hydrochloric acid (Spiritus Salis) was first presented by Glauber in larger quantities. He produced the hydrochloric acid (probably around 25% at that time) from table salt or table salt and some alum by heating it up in red-hot charcoal. Glauber could also represent hydrogen chloride and fuming hydrochloric acid, the fuming hydrochloric acid was known as Spiritus salis fumans Glauberi until the 19th century .

Glauber also found an improved manufacturing method for concentrated nitric acid , starting from concentrated sulfuric acid and potassium nitrate (nitric acid). He described the weight ratios (2 parts by weight of saltpeter, 1 part of oleum) of the two substances at which a very high conversion took place. He synthesized sodium sulfate (the Glauber's salt named after him) around 1625 from sodium chloride (table salt) and sulfuric acid. Glauber himself also called the salt he discovered ' Sal mirabilis ' and ' Mirabili ' and was familiar with its use as a laxative. Today sodium sulphate is used as an extender in detergents, in the production of paper and cellulose , in glass production, as well as in the production of ultramarine blue and sodium sulphide . Anhydrous sodium sulfate is used in the laboratory to dry organic solvents.

He also represented ammonium sulfate, iron sulfate, copper sulfate, ammonium nitrate , iron chloride, gold chloride, zinc chloride, tin chloride, copper chloride, arsenic chloride from the metals and the corresponding acids. In his opinion, salts consisted of an acidic and alkaline component and he classified the metals after their dissolution in mineral acids. Glauber was the first to develop the idea that reactivity depends on chemical relationships.

In organic chemistry, he studied fermentation processes, from which he was able to earn a large part of his income at times. He isolated glucose from honey, raisins and must and extracted vinegar from wood. Glauber was probably able to extract alkaloids ( morphine , brucine , strychnine ) for the first time through the action of sulfuric acid or nitric acid on plants . He was able to isolate the substances as a white powder. The chemical elements and the elemental analysis were still unknown at this time, so that only Glauber's job descriptions can give indications of possible substances. The discovery of the nature of alkaloids and their first isolation (in the case of morphine) is generally attributed to Friedrich Sertürner at the beginning of the 19th century.

Glauber probably also obtained acetone (from zinc acetate) and acrolein by fractional distillation of salts of acetic acid . It may have been able to extract benzene and phenol from the distillation of coal . For the latter substance he stated an antiseptic effect.

Glauber succeeded in synthesizing various metal chlorides, for example antimony trichloride , tin tetrachloride , zinc chloride and arsenic (III) chloride . He knew about chlorine gas, which he made from manganese dioxide and hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen chloride gas (from table salt and glowing charcoal and potassium chlorate ). He also discovered and described a chemical garden in 1646. In this first experiment, he brought iron (II) chloride crystals into a solution of potassium silicate (K 2 SiO 3 , water glass ). He knew the composition of ammonia from ammonia and hydrochloric acid and knew that silver chloride is soluble in it.

Glauber's scientific writings (he wrote about 40 books) and the manufacture of chemical and pharmaceutical products brought him great business success and a considerable professional reputation. In a book he also described possibilities for prosperity in Germany, which was destroyed by the Thirty Years War ( Des Teutschlands Wohlfarth , Amsterdam 1656), among other things with the help of chemistry. Glauber developed new, improved ovens and more effective distillation systems , stirrers, glass funnels and ground glass stoppers for acids, separating glasses for separating two liquids, closures (made of mercury) for very volatile substances. He was also important for the development of chemical laboratory equipment and his books spread knowledge about it.

Glauber is also referred to as the first "industrial chemist" and the first chemist who was able to make a living from his profession. He worked here on the manufacture of mirrors, colored glass, explosives, pickling for dyeing, fertilizers, malt extract and the production of vinegar, wine and beer.

The manufacture of medicines was a focus of his work. As a pharmacist, he was a supporter of iatrochemistry or spagyric as the successor to Paracelsus , but he also did not reject traditional pharmacy, which was associated with the name of Galens , and so took a middle position in the dispute between the two schools at the time and was involved both controversial.

Fonts (selection)

  • Dess Teutschlands Wohlfahrt (most important work), 6 vols. 1656–1661
  • Operis mineralis or many artificial and useful metal works description , 3 vols. 1651–1652
  • Opera omnia (collected works), 7 parts 1669
  • De Auri Tinctura sive Auro Potabili Vero: What such are and how to distinguish and recognize what such are and how they are from a false and sophistic Auro Potabili ... what such in Medicina could be used for. Described and given on the day by Joh. Rud. Glauberum 1646
  • Furni Novi Philosophici Or description of a newly invented Distilir art: Also what kind of spirit, olea, Flores, and other similar vegetable / animal / and mineral medicines / with it ... can be added and prepared , 2 parts 1646–1647; (Part 1 digitized and full text in the German text archive , part 3 digitalized and full text in the German text archive , part 4 digitalized and full text in the German text archive , part 5 digitalized and full text in the German text archive )
  • Miraculum Mundi, or Detailed Description of the Wonderful Nature / Kind / and Properties / of the Great Mighty Subiecti: Called by the Ancient Menstruum Vniversale or Mercurius Philosophorum. . - give on the day / vnd now on the newe corrigiret vnd ​​improved by Iohann Rudolph Glaubern , 7 parts 1653–1658
  • Johann Rudolf Glauberi Apologia or Defense Against Christoff Farner's Lies and Honest , 2 parts. 1655
  • Second Apologia, or salvation of honor against Christoff Farnern, Speyerischen Thom-Stiffts Schaffnern zu Löchgaw, inhuman lies and defamation 1656
  • Tractatus De Medicina Universali, Sive Auro Potabili Vero. Or a detailed description of a true universal medicine: as well as the same miraculous great power and effect. . - The present blind world… described in a clouded manner and given by Johan. Rudolph. Glauber , 2 parts. 1657
  • Johannis Rudolphi Glauberi Philosophi & Medici Celeberrimi Opera Chymica, books and writings / as many of them were given by him bißhero on the day , 2 parts 1658–1659; (Part 1 digitized and full text in the German text archive , part 2 digitalized and full text in the German text archive )
  • Tractatus de natura salium , 2 parts 1658–1659
  • Tractatus de signatura salium, metallorum, et planetarum, sive fundamentalis institutio, evident. monstrans, quo pacto facillime non solum salium, metall., atque planetarum… supputari queant (1658)
  • Opera chymica: books and writings, so much of which were given by him bißhero in the day; now overlooked by the new and multiplied (collected writings), 2 parts. 1658–1659 - digitized edition
  • Explication or explanation of the words Salomonis: In herbis, verbis, et lapidibus, magna est virtus , 2 parts 1663–1664
  • Libellus dialogorum, sive colloquia, nonnullorum Hermeticae medicinae, ac tincturae universalis 1663
  • Novum lumen chimicum: or e. new-invented and never-before-known high Secreti Revelation 1664
  • Of the three beginnings of metals, as sulfur, mercurio and salt of the wise, 1666
  • Tractatus de tribus principiis metallorum, videlicet sulfur, mercurio et sale philosophorum, quemadmodzum illa in medicina, alchymia aliisque artibus associatis utiliter adhiberi valeant 1667
  • Glauberus Concentratus Or Laboratorium Glauberianum: This includes the specification, and taxation of their medicinal / and chemical arcanities; Sambt of all your artificial ovens and instruments ... by the author ... considered rarities ... given on the day 1668
  • De Elia artista 1667
  • De tribus lapidibus ignium secretorum: Or of the three most noble rocks 1667
  • De lapide animali 1669
  • Libellus ignium: Or fire booklet, in it of different strange and bit data still completely unknown fires traded: What they serve and what unbelievable things and inexpressible benefits can come and be brought to the human race. For God's honor and service the next one described and given on day by Joh. Rudoph. Glauberum 1663

Literature (selection)

  • Albert Ladenburg :  Glauber, Johann Rudolph . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 9, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1879, p. 221 f.
  • Kurt F. Gugel: Johann Rudolph Glauber, life and work. Würzburg 1955
  • Erich Pietsch :  Glauber, Johann Rudolph. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 6, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1964, ISBN 3-428-00187-7 , p. 437 f. ( Digitized version ).
  • Erich Pietsch: Johann Rudolph Glauber, man, his work and his time , in: Deutsches Museum 24 (1956), pp. 1–64
  • Paul Walden: Glauber , in: Günther Bugge (ed.). The book of great chemists , Volume I. Weinheim 1974, pp. 151-172
  • Ernst F. Schwenk: Sal mirabilis Glauberi in: Great moments in early chemistry . Munich 2000, pp. 13-22
  • Heinz Eschnauer, Georg Schwedt : Historical wine book by Johann Rudolph Glauber anno 1645 . Clausthal-Zellerfeld 2006
  • Georg Lockemann: History of Chemistry , Volume 1, Walter de Gruyter Verlag 1950, pp. 72-77
  • Wolf-Dieter Müller-Jahncke: Glauber, Johann Rudolph, in: Claus Priesner , Karin Figala : Alchemie. Lexicon of a Hermetic Science, Beck 1998, pp. 150-151

List of works and references

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Johann Rudolph Glauber in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature of the IAU (WGPSN) / USGS
  2. ↑ a b Pötsch u. a., Lexicon of important chemists, 1989, p. 170.
  3. ↑ a b Pötsch u. a., Lexicon of important chemists, 1989, p. 171.
  4. ↑ Pötsch u. a., Lexicon of significant chemists, 1989, p. 171. There only general mention of alkaloids.
  5. ↑ Johann Rudolf Glauber, Furni Novi Philosophici. Amsterdam, 1646 ( digitized and full text in the German text archive ).
  6. ↑ Wolf-Dieter Müller-Jahncke, in Priesner, Figala, Alchemie, 1998, p. 151.
personal data
SURNAME Glauber, Johann Rudolph
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Pharmacist and chemist
DATE OF BIRTH March 10, 1604
PLACE OF BIRTH Karlstadt
DATE OF DEATH March 16, 1670
Place of death Amsterdam