What is Jöns Jacob Berzelius?, Explain Jöns Jacob Berzelius, Define Jöns Jacob Berzelius
Baron John's Jacob Berzelius, named by himself and contemporary society as Jacob Berzelius,
was a Swedish chemist. Berzelius is considered, along with Robert Boyle,
John Dalton, and Antoine Lavoisier, to be one of the founders of modern chemistry.
Berzelius began his career as a physician but his researches in physical chemistry were of
He is especially noted for his determination of atomic weights. His experiments led to a
more complete depiction of the principles of stoichiometry, or the field of chemical
combining proportions. In 1803 Berzelius demonstrated the power of an electrochemical
cell to decompose chemicals into pairs of electrically opposite constituents.
Berzelius's work with atomic weights and his theory of electrochemical dualism led to his
development of a modern system of chemical formula notation that could portray the
composition of any compound both qualitatively and quantitatively.
His system abbreviated the Latin names of the elements with one or two letters and applied
superscripts to designate the number of atoms of each element present in both the acidic and
ingredients. Berzelius himself discovered and isolated several new elements, including
cerium and thorium. Berzelius's interest in mineralogy also fostered his analysis and
preparation of new compounds of these and other elements. The mineral berzelionite was discovered
in 1850 and named after him. He was a strict empiricist and insisted that any new theory
be consistent with the sum of chemical knowledge. He developed classical analytical techniques and
investigated isomerism and catalysis, phenomena that owe their names to him. He became a member
of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1808 and served from 1818 as its principal
functionary, the Perpetual Secretary. He is known in Sweden as the father of Swedish chemistry.
Berzelius Day is celebrated on the 20th of August in honor of him.

