Important Figures in Analytical Chemistry from Germany: From the Middle Ages to the Nineteenth Century - Important Figures of Analytical Chemistry from Germany in Brief Biographies - page 39

Privatdozent in chemistry at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Berlin, a year
later Extraordinarius and in 1835, Ordinarius , i.e. as a full professor.
Rose's contributions to chemistry were twofold, firstly by the training, he
gave directly at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Berlin and indirectly through
his great textbook of analytical chemistry, Handbuch der analytischen Chemie
[ 164 - 166 ]. His second contribution was by his vast number research papers,
mainly on analyses of inorganic materials and minerals [ 167 ]. His textbook was
first published in German in 1829 and in translation, English (1831); French
(1832); Italian (1835-1838). The text is divided into two parts, qualitative and
quantitative. In the qualitative section, Rose dealt with soluble as well as insol-
uble materials, reagents and the detailed behaviour of elements and their most
important compounds. The quantitative section gave details of the determination
of elements and necessary modifications required if other elements that can inter-
fere were present. The calculations were carried out using the tables published by
Berzelius. The text went through several editions and translations, being in their
time, the standard reference works on the subject. Its importance can be judged
from the translator's preface to the English edition:
The high repute in which the Author of the following Work is held as an Analyst, renders
it altogether unnecessary for me to offer any apology for the publication of this trans-
lation. As the English chemist possesses at present no competent literary instructor to
guide him in his analytical researches, it may be assumed that a Work, emanating from
the Berlin School, and sanctioned by the name of Rose, will not be looked upon with
indifference.
The sixth and last German edition was prepared by Finkener after Rose's death
[ 165 ].
Friedrich W öhler [born 31 July 1800, Eschersheim (now part of Frankfurt/
Main); died 23 September 1882, Göttingen] after early education in Frankfurt,
he studied medicine at the Philipps-Universität Marburg [ 24 XIII] and then at
Heidelberg [ 24 XIV] where he was graduated in 1823 [ 168 - 170 ] (see Fig. 2.21
for his portrait). At Heidelberg, Gmelin facilitated Wöhler's interest in chemistry
and encouraged him to go abroad for further training and recommended him to
Berzelius in Stockholm. Here, he received rigorous training in mineral analysis
and formed a firm and long-lasting friendship with Berzelius. He was appointed
in 1836 to the chair of chemistry in Göttingen to succeed Stromeyer. Wöhler is
best known for his contributions to organic chemistry, starting with synthesis of
urea from inorganic sources, and collaboration with Liebig. He met Liebig in 1825
over a minor squabble concerning the interpretation of analytical results of silver
fulminate and silver cyanate, a classic example of isomerism. Wöhler's success
in organic chemistry owed much to his analytical skills. In addition, he retained
a lifelong interest in the analyses of minerals, and particularly of meteorites, and
published extensively on these topics [ 171 ]. He also wrote three analytical texts,
Beispiele zur " bung in der analytischen Chemie [ 172 ], Praktische " bungen in der
chemischen Analyse [ 173 ] and Die Mineral - Analyse in Beispielen [ 174 ].