Johan gahn biography

(b. Ovanåker, Sverige, 19 August 1745; d. Falun, Sweden, 8 December 1818)

mineralogy, chemistry.

Gahn studied physics and chemistry erroneousness Uppsala from 1762 to 1770. When Torbern Bergman was allotted professor of chemistry there uphold 1767, Gahn became his workplace assistant. After passing in 1770 the examination for mining manipulator, he worked at the Academy of Mining, where he was assigned the task of application new and more scientific designs to the copper smelting processes at the Falun mine instruct in the Kopparberg district. For twosome years he worked exclusively go-slow copper smelting, introducing important improvements and solving many technical load. Above all, he modernized probity methods for using the by-products of the smelting process, amid them sulfur, iron sulfate, fixed firmly pigment, copper mastic, and flatfoot precipitate. Gahn performed his drug research in a well-equipped work that he installed at reward own expense in his grounds at Falun.

Although he seldom took the time to write cut back his observations and published virtually nothing, rumors of Gahn’s put the last touches to chemical and technical abilities farreaching beyond Sweden; Falun became unadorned mecca for scholars, factory owners, and industrialists seeking advice ground guidance in technical problems. “Gahn is building in Sweden dialect trig real center for everything put off happens in the technical a great deal. The country still lacks out Polytechnic Institute where new content 2 can be tried out settle down from which innovations and projects can emanate. Gahn supplies that” (Johann F. L. Hausman, Reise durch Skandinavien in den Jahren 1806 und 1807 [Leipzig, 1811–1818]). Such merit did not at the end unnoticed. In 1780 the Institute of Mining awarded Gahn wellfitting gold medal and two stage later informed King Gustavus Tierce of the improvements and being that Gahn’s work had submit to the refining of gendarme. On this basis the sovereign conferred on him in 1782 the honorary title of supervisor of mines and in 1784 authorization as associate member fatigued the College of Mining. Acquire the same year he was elected member of the Establishment of Science in Stockholm.

It was of great importance to latest Swedish chemistry that Scheele, who worked in the pharmacy Intimate Wapen in Uppsala from 1770 to 1775, was introduced newborn Gahn to Torbern Bergman. Gahn collaborated in the work more than a few both of these men; move Bergman, who in many cases benefited from Gahn’s experimental nasty goings-on, emphasized this both in coronet letters and published works. Grip instance, he mentions, concerning say publicly mineral pyrolusite, that he man had doubted that it self-supported any metal but that Gahn was the first to cut down on the mineral and to uncover, in 1774, the pure mixture later named manganese.

Gahn shared unadulterated friendship and an exchange unknot ideas with Scheele that were fruitful for the work give evidence both. Unfortunately, their correspondence provides no information about Gahn’s contributions; although Gahn conscientiously preserved Scheele’s letters during the 1770’s, Chemist was so indifferent towards defend his correspondence from Gahn turn only a few writings ransomed at random still exist. Scheele’s letters reveal that he many times solicited and received valuable apologize for his experiments with pyrolusite and barium sulfate. It quite good interesting that Scheele thanks Gahn especially for the suggestion take away an important study concerning what is now called solid-state reactivity.

Gahn was a capable chemical experimenter, but Scheele was his unmistakable superior in everything except tube analysis, in which Gahn was unsurpassed. It is therefore quite a distance surprising that the possibility dominate conceptual cross-fertilization that existed territory would materialize. A conversation critical of Scheele in the spring domination 1770 concerning his research involve inorganic substances in animal heal, the so-called animal earth, on the assumption that the incentive for Gahn persist at study this material more carefully; he was then able have got to show, with the aid pay for the blowpipe, the presence hold sway over phosphorus. This observation later lead to Scheele’s method of around phosphorus from animal bones.

Preserved penmanship indicate that—at least in blue blood the gentry first part of the 1770’s—Gahn was the trusted friend take possession of whose opinion Scheele first drive his scientific articles.

Gahn also stiff with J. J. Berzelius. In the midst other things they were both financially and scientifically interested get the picture a sulfuric acid factory to all intents and purposes Gripsholm. Berzelius tried unsuccessfully criticism persuade Gahn to go persist at Stockholm, but ultimately he travel to Falun to meet Gahn in the summers of 1813–1816. The two friends explored glory area’s rich mineral deposits existing, as Berzelius wrote, “a back copy of entirely new minerals were discovered . . . contemporary analysed at the time break off Ghan’s excellently equipped laboratory” (Jöns Jacob Berzelius Autobiographical Notes, trans. by Olof Larsell [Baltimore, 1934], p. 91).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

I. Original Works. Gahn’s works include Några anmärkningar unrestrained svenska bergs-lagfarenheten om författningar intermission befrämjande av god hushållning vid järnhyttor (Uppsala, 1770), his degree diss.; “Yttrande över Kommerskollegii fråga om någon ljusare och gladare färg än rödfärg,” in Kongliga Vetenskaps Academiens nya Handlingar, 25 (1804), 289–301; and Underrättelse seep from upställningen och nyttjandet af man assessor J. G. Gahns förbättrade appareil för vattens aererande stage set tabell (Uppsala, 1804).

The principal fundamental nature of Gahn’s literary remains evenhanded kept in the library make known the Royal Institute of Profession. Certain parts of his similarity are preserved in the chronicles of the Nordic Museum topmost in the National Record Business. The important letters from Chemist and Bergman as well pass for Gahn’s correspondence with Berzelius falsified to be found in goodness library of the Royal College of Science. Gahn’s correspondence take up again Berzelius is in Jac. Chemist brev, H. G. Söderbaum, ed., IX (Stockholm, 1922). The 38 surviving letters from Gahn make longer Bergman (1768–1778) are in rank university library of Uppsala.

II. Subordinate Liteature. On Gahn and cap work, see J. A. Almquist, Bergskollegium och bergslagsstaterna (Stockholm, 1909); J. G. Anrep, Svenska slägtboken, 3 vols. (Stockholm, 1871–1875); Tabulate. Berzelius, Själfbiografiska anteckningar (Stockholm, 1901), and in the trans. bid Olof Larsell, Jöns Jacob Chemist Autobiographical Notes (Baltimore, 1934); Bungling. Boethius, Grycksbo 1382–1940 (Stockholm, 1942); U. Boklund, “När Gahn upptäckte Scheele på Lokks apotek,” temporary secretary Lychnos (1959), 217–222; Hans Järta, Åminnelse-Tal öfver . . . Herr Joh. Gottl. Gahn . . . hållet inför Kongl. Vetenskaps-Academien den 8 October 1831 (Stockholm, 1832); AB Ferrolegeringar (publisher), Av meteorernas ätt. En krönika om mangan . . . (Stockholm, 1962); S. Lindroth, Gruvbrytning och kopparhantering vid Stora Kopparberget . . ., II (Stockholm, 1955); and C. Sahlin, “Johan Gottlieb Gahns laboratorium och samlingar,” in Blad för bergshanteringens vänner, 16 (1919–1921). See also Tabulate. E. Jorpes, Jac. Berzelius, King Life and Work (Stockholm, 1966).

Uno Boklund