Svante Arrhenius - Chemists, Career and Personal Life

Svante Arrhenius's Personal Details

Svante Arrhenius was a renowned Swedish scientist who is regarded as father of modern day physical chemistry

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Who is Svante Arrhenius?

Swedish scientist Svante August Arrhenius remains one of the most influential scientists in history and although it is true that he started off as a physicist; he ended up being more influential as a researcher par excellence on chemistry. He showed a remarkable gift for arithmetic at an early age and for all intents and purposes he was a child prodigy who excelled in the sciences. His major projects were related to chemistry and Arrhenius was also one of the leading purveyors of what is now known as physical chemistry. Arrhenius was Sweden’s leading scientist throughout his life and his papers on the greenhouse effect is regarded as a benchmark study on climate change in the 21st century. He is known as the ‘father of climate change’ studies and all the research that has been conducted on it are based on the findings of Svante Arrhenius. Other than his study on the greenhouse effect; he is also famous for his work on the theory of electrolytic dissociation. Arrhenius is often referred to as a physical chemist in light of the sort of studies he conducted. Read on to know more about his life and contribution to the field of physical chemistry.

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Childhood & Early Life

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Svante Arrhenius biography timelines

• // 1859
  Svante Arrhenius was born in Vik near the Swedish town of Uppsala on Febuary 19, 1859 to Svente Gustav and Carolina Thunberg Arrhenius. His father was a non-teaching employee at the ‘Uppsala University’.
• // 1862
  By the year 1862, a 3 year old Arrhenius learned how to read and became the talk of the town. Additionally, he also became an expert in arithmetic at the same time by going through his father’s accounting books.
• // 1876
  In 1876, Svante Arrhenius graduated from the highly regarded cathedral school in the city of Uppsala and he was also the youngest graduate at the time.
• // 1876
  In the year 1876, at the age of 17, he went to study at ‘Uppsala University’ and his subjects of study were physics, chemistry and mathematics. Arrhenius was awarded his bachelor’s degree two years later.
• // 1881
  Arrhenius was dissatisfied with the physics teacher at ‘Uppsala University’ and so he discontinued his research work 1881 in order to study under Erik Edlund at the ‘Swedish Academy of Sciences’, Stockholm.
• // 1884
  In 1884, the budding chemist put forward his dissertation at the ‘Swedish Academy of Sciences’ and in total it contained 56 theses, most of which would be considered flawless in the modern age.
• // 1884
  In his 1884 dissertation he proved that a solution of salts and water is a good conductor of electricity while individually they weren’t. Although the theory did not impress his professors; stalwarts of physical chemistry like Rudolf Clausius and Wilhelm Ostwald were impressed.
• // 1885 To 1890
  In the period between 1885 and 1890, he also carried out studies related to cosmic physics while at the same time he continued to make remarkable strides in findings related to electrolytic dissociation theory.
• // 1886
  Arrhenius was given a grant by the ‘Swedish Academy of Sciences’ in 1886 which allowed him to travel and conduct research with the leading scientists of the day like Ostwald and Boltzmann.
• // 1891
  In the year 1891, Svante was appointed as a lecturer in physics at the Stockholms Hogskola, which is now better known as ‘Stockholm University’. He continued in that position till he was promoted as a professor four years later.
• // 1894
  Svante married his student Sofia Rudbeck in 1894 but the marriage ended two years later. He had one son from his first marriage and he was named Olof Vilhelm Arrhenius. Olof went on to become a chemist as well.
• // 1896
  In 1896, he started work on proving how the fluctuations in the carbon dioxide levels can have an effect on the climate and temperature of a place. He termed it the ‘Greenhouse Effect’ and it is regarded as the one of the most pioneering studies on climate change to this day.
• // 1901
  From 1901 till his death he had a major influence in the awarding of the Nobel Prizes as member of the Nobel Committees on Physics and Chemistry.
• // 1902
  The Royal Society of London recognized Arrhenius’ pioneering study on the theory of dissociation and awarded him with the ‘Davy Medal’ in the year 1902.
• // 1903
  In the year 1903, this eminent scientist became the 3rd recipient of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his breakthrough in the study of ‘Greenhouse Effect’; which remains one of the most important studies in modern history.
• // 1905
  In the year, 1905 Arrhenius married Maria Johansson and the marriage lasted till the former’s death. He had two daughters and a son with Maria.
• // 1908
  Svante Arrhenius was a staunch believer in making science and scientific thinking popular among the masses and to that end he published the famous book ‘Worlds in the Making’ in 1908. It was translated into many languages and was an immensely popular book.
• // 2nd Oct 1927
  On 2nd October, 1927 this renowned chemist succumbed to inflammatory bowel disease with which he had been suffering. He died at the age of 68 and he was buried in Uppsala.

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Svante Arrhenius's FAQ

• What is Svante Arrhenius birthday?

  Svante Arrhenius was born at 1859-02-19

• When was Svante Arrhenius died?

  Svante Arrhenius was died at 1927-10-02

• Where was Svante Arrhenius died?

  Svante Arrhenius was died in Stockholm

• Which age was Svante Arrhenius died?

  Svante Arrhenius was died at age 68

• Where is Svante Arrhenius's birth place?

  Svante Arrhenius was born in Vik

• What is Svante Arrhenius nationalities?

  Svante Arrhenius's nationalities is Swedish

• Who is Svante Arrhenius spouses?

  Svante Arrhenius's spouses is Maria Johansson, Sofia Rudbeck

• What was Svante Arrhenius universities?

  Svante Arrhenius studied at Stockholm University, Uppsala University

• What is Svante Arrhenius's sun sign?

  Svante Arrhenius is Aquarius

• How famous is Svante Arrhenius?

  Svante Arrhenius is famouse as Scientist