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Martin Heinrich Klaproth
German chemist (1743–1817) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Martin Heinrich Klaproth (1 December 1743 – 1 January 1817) was a German chemist.[1] He trained and worked for much of his life as an apothecary, moving in later life to the university. His shop became the second-largest apothecary in Berlin, and the most productive artisanal chemical research center in Europe.[2]
Martin Klaproth | |
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![]() Engraving by Ambroise Tardieu | |
Born | (1743-12-01)1 December 1743 |
Died | 1 January 1817(1817-01-01) (aged 73) Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia |
Nationality | German |
Citizenship | Wernigerode |
Known for | Discovery of uranium, zirconium, and other elements |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Chemistry |
Klaproth was a major systematizer of analytical chemistry,[3] and an independent inventor of gravimetric analysis.[4][5] His attention to detail and refusal to ignore discrepancies in results led to improvements in the use of apparatus. He was a major figure in understanding the composition of minerals and characterizing the elements.[4] Klaproth discovered uranium (1789)[6] and zirconium (1789). He was also involved in the discovery or co-discovery of titanium (1795), strontium (1793), cerium (1803), and chromium (1797) and confirmed the previous discoveries of tellurium (1798) and beryllium (1798).[7][8]
Klaproth was a member and director of the Berlin Academy of Sciences.[2] He was recognized internationally as a member of the Royal Society in London,[9] the Institut de France, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.[10]