Carl Wilhelm Scheele
An 18th-century apothecary who, through relentless experimentation, identified more chemical elements than almost anyone before him, yet rarely received due credit.
1742–1786 (age 44)·Swedish German chemist who discovered oxygen·Birthday: December 9
Biography
Working in humble apothecary shops across Sweden, Carl Wilhelm Scheele was a quiet, obsessive experimenter whose discoveries fundamentally altered the landscape of chemistry. With little formal training but boundless curiosity, he prepared and characterized a stunning array of substances. He discovered oxygen several years before Joseph Priestley, though his findings were published later. He identified chlorine, though he mistakenly thought it contained oxygen. He isolated molybdenum, tungsten, and manganese, and even discovered the chemical composition of ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. Tragically, his hands-on method of tasting and smelling new compounds—a common practice of the time—likely contributed to his early death from symptoms resembling mercury poisoning. While names like Priestley and Lavoisier often dominate the history of his era, Scheele’s meticulous laboratory notebooks reveal a mind of extraordinary intuitive power, whose work provided the raw materials for the chemical revolution.
#1 When Carl Was Born
The biggest hits of 1742
Carl's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1742Born
1747Started school
1755Became a teenager
1758Could drive
1760Could vote
1763Turned 21
1772Turned 30
1782Turned 40
1786Died at 44
Key Achievements
- Discovered oxygen independently around 1772, naming it 'fire air' after observing its role in combustion.
- Identified and isolated the element chlorine, though he termed it 'dephlogisticated muriatic acid'.
- Isolated numerous organic acids, including tartaric acid, citric acid, and lactic acid, from natural sources.
- Discovered the chemical composition of the toxic compound hydrogen cyanide.
Did You Know?
He never held an academic post, conducting all his research while working as an apothecary's assistant and later as a shop owner.
The mineral scheelite (calcium tungstate) is named in his honor.
He had a habit of tasting small amounts of the chemicals he discovered, including hydrogen cyanide, which he noted had a taste of bitter almonds.
A great many of his discoveries were communicated in letters to other scientists, leading to delayed publication and disputes over priority.
“It is the truth alone that we desire to know, and what a joy there is in discovering it.”
