Claude Louis, comte Berthollet (* 9 December 1748 in Talloires; "† 6 November 1822 in Arcueil), was a French chemist and physician. It researched over coloring and bleaches (chlorine and Hypochlorit) and determined the chemical composition of ammonia (NH3), prussic acid (HCN) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). It developed the modern chemical nomenclature together with Antoine Lavoisier.

Biography and work

Born on 9 December 1748 in Talloires with Annecy in France (Savoyen), it began a study of the medicine in To short time it changed 1770 to the university of Turin where it to the doctor of the medicine attained a doctorate. 1772 it established itself as a physician and researchers in Paris, where it deepened its knowledge of chemistry. He was an occasional body physician of the duke Philip of and became due to his outstanding Reputation as a chemist 1780 member of the Academy of Sciences. 1784 he took over an employment as a director of a Manufaktur for the production of wall carpets (Gobelins).

1789 he discovered the bleaching effect of chlorine. Berthollet, the inspector of the was and also a "manual of the coloring art" gave change, led thereupon chlorine and/or the Hypochlorit as bleaches into the textile industry in. The alkaline solutions were sold after the production place as "Eau de Javelle" (Javellewasser). Also its investigations are important for the composition of ammonia (NH3) (1785), prussic acid (HCN) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

Berthollet supported Antoine Lavoisiers refutation of the Phlogistontheorie which to the reform of the chemical nomenclature led (1787). This was the basis for the development of the this very day common chemical technical language.

When there was revolution difficulties with the supply at Salpeter for the production of gun powder at the beginning of the French, he became leader both a commission, that should guarantee the saltpeter supply of France, and director/conductor of a commission to improve with the goal the methods of the iron production. 1794 he became a professor for chemistry to the Polytechnique. Four years later, in the year 1798 he, than member of a group of scientists, accompanied Bonaparte (Napoleon I.) on a journey to Egypt.

1803 it published the important work "Essai de statique chimique" (dt. attempt of chemical statics). These and its other theoretical work over the chemical affinity justify its meaning than researchers. Berthollet recognized that the quantitative proportions for chemical reactions played a decision duck role, yet held it the opinion, the composition of a reaction product depends on the conditions. This by Prousts law of the constant proportions was disproved (a certain chemical compound has a certain sum formula and thus a certain composition), but it gives indeed some not-molecular connections, which show a certain variability in the composition (e.g. with the ferric oxide Fe1-xO with x=0.90-0.95). One calls such connection therefore also bertholloid. In addition its opinion that temperature, pressure and concentration affect the product composition, is correct in the sense of different product concentrations, as e.g. the mass action law shows.

1804 he was appointed by Bonaparte the senator and officer of the honour guard, simultaneous kept he a count title (Comte). In its characteristic as a senator it tuned 1814 nevertheless for the removal from office of Bonaparte. In the course of the restoration of the Bourbonen it received a seat as a Pair from France.

Berthollet in Arcueil spent its old age with Paris, where its well equipped laboratory attracted many high-ranking researchers. From this developed the D'Arcueil, a discussion and research round, to which also Alexander of Humboldt, Jean Baptiste Biot, Pierre Simon Laplace and Louis Jacques belonged. The progress of the circle was published in 3 volumes between 1807 and 1817 under the title "Memoires de la D'Arcueil". Berthollet died on 6 November 1822, as carrier of many honours and honors, in Arceuil.

In honours of Berthollet the Paranuss received Bertholletia Excelsa to the botanischen names.

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