Bunsen Robert Wilhelm

Bunsen, Robert Wilhelm, chemist, was born in 1811 at Gottingen. Having studied in the university of his native place, at Paris, Berlin, and Vienna, he became professor of chemistry in Cassel, Marburg, Breslau, and Heidelberg in succession. At Heidelberg he built a grand laboratory and made it one of the best schools of chemistry in Europe. Among his discoveries are the production of magnesium in large quantities, the spectrum analysis, the electric pile and the burner, which are named after him, and hydrated oxide of iron as an antidote to arsenic poisoning, which last has saved many lives, and was rewarded by a gold medal from the Prussian Government. Among his chief works are, On a new Volumetric Method, A Treatise on Gas Analysis, and Chemical Analysis by the Spectroscope.