September 2, 1853 - Birth of Wilhelm Ostwald, Nobel Prize for his studies on chemical equilibria, reaction rates, and catalysis

Chemist, university professor, and philosopher who conducted studies on catalysis and the fundamental principles governing chemical equilibria and reaction rates. Which led him to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1909.

He is responsible for the formulation of the Dilution Law (known as Ostwald's Law) which refers to dissociation phenomena in electrolyte solutions, as well as the discovery, in 1902, of a method for preparing nitric acid. by oxidation of ammonia. He also invented a viscometer that is still used to measure the viscosity of solutions.

In addition, he also defended a new theory on colors and founded, in 1920, in Dresden (Germany) a laboratory specialized in this matter.

Throughout his career, he published scientific memoirs and, closely related to this prodigious scientific activity, became deeply interested in the history of science, through painting, and in the philosophy of science and the philosophy of nature.

If you want to know more about this scientist, click on the following link: Friederich Wilhelm Ostwald