Famous Chemists - List of Famous Chemists

Chemists are the scientists who specialize in the field of chemistry. They investigate the chemical nature of substances and how they behave under different conditions to search for new knowledge. Compounds, both organic and inorganic, are examined to determine their chemical and physical properties, composition, structure, and reactivity. Chemists try to decode the details of the chemical molecules and their component atoms. The knowledge gained through research is used to understand the composition and properties of unknown substances, and is used in practical applications in industries. Since chemicals play a vital role in virtually all types of industries, chemists are employed in various industrial establishments, especially those dealing in plastics, medicines, pharmaceuticals, and chemical industries. They also work in research and in university teaching positions. Newer discoveries and findings in the field of chemistry lead to the development of better products, processes and analytical methods. Chemistry is a vast field divided into several overlapping sub-branches: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, etc. Chemists primarily work in laboratories and use a variety of techniques in their research like spectroscopy, chromatography, and spectrophotometry. Read on to discover about the life and works of various famous chemists, through their biographies and timelines, from all over the world.

The Most Famous Chemists

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Henry CavendishOctober 10, 1731BritishHenry Cavendish was a theoretical chemist and physicist, renowned for discovery of hydrogen and calculation of the mass of earth
Walter KohnMarch 9, 1923AustrianNobel Laureate Walter Kohn was an Austrian-born American theoretical chemist and physicist
Jabir Ibn Hayyan721IranianJabir Ibn Hayyan was a medieval era polymath
Stephanie KwolekJuly 31, 1923AmericanStephanie Kwolek was an American chemist whose research work led to the development of the synthetic fiber, Kevlar
Amedeo AvogadroAugust 9, 1776ItalianAmedeo Avogadro was an Italian scientist who formulated what is now known as Avogadro's law
Humphry DavyDecember 17, 1778BritishSir Humphry Davy was a British chemist who made major contributions to the discoveries of chlorine and iodine
Willard LibbyDecember 17, 1908AmericanWillard Frank Libby was an American physical chemist who was awarded the ‘Nobel Prize’ in Chemistry in 1960
Mario J. MolinaMarch 19, 1943MexicanMario Molina is a Nobel Prize winning chemist from Mexico who co-developed the theory of ozone depletion due to CFCs
Robert BunsenMarch 30, 1811GermanRobert Bunsen was a German chemist who developed the Bunsen burner with Peter Desaga
Marie CurieNovember 7, 1867PolishMarie Curie was a Physicist and Chemist, who was world renowned for her work on radioactivity
Joseph Priestley

Joseph Priestley

Joseph Priestley was a renowned English theologian, author, chemist and political theorist of the 18th century

BritishMarch 24, 1733139 views

Walter Kohn

Nobel Laureate Walter Kohn was an Austrian-born American theoretical chemist and physicist

AustrianMarch 9, 1923896 views

John A Pople

John A Pople was an English theoretical chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1998

BritishOctober 31, 1925160 views

Richard E. Smalley

Richard Errette Smalley was a renowned American chemist who won the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

AmericanJune 6, 1943113 views

Sir Harold W. Kroto

Sir Harold Walter Kroto was a Nobel Prize winning English chemist

BritishOctober 7, 1939142 views

Rudolph A. Marcus

Rudolph A

CanadianJuly 21, 1923112 views

Jens C Skou

Jens Christian Skou is a Danish scientist and doctor who won the 1997 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

DanishOctober 8, 1918122 views

Robert Floyd Curl Jr.

Robert Floyd Curl Jr

AmericanAugust 23, 1933120 views

Paul J. Crutzen

Paul Jozef Crutzen is a Dutch atmospheric chemist, well-known for his work on ozone depletion and global warming

DutchDecember 3, 1933140 views

Frank Sherwood Rowland

Frank Sherwood Rowland was an American chemist who won the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

AmericanJune 28, 1927125 views