Raphael Eduard Liesegang
Encyclopedia
Raphael Eduard Liesegang (November 1, 1869 – November 13, 1947) was a German chemist
, photographer and entrepreneur
born in Elberfeld
. He is known for his work on Liesegang rings
He also helped develop the methods of capillary analysis, a precursor to paper chromatography
published a paper on the possibility of television (years before the discovery of the electron), contributed to chromosome theory, worked on properties of aerosols and gelatins, the origins of silicosis, the role of carbon dioxide in plant life and the mechanism of both black and white and colour photographic processes.
The son of a painter (then later photographer) Liesegang longed for an artistic career but lacked the ability to draw or paint. His father would later invent a camera and photography would go on to be one of Liesegangs passions. It was research into photographic emulsions that initially lead to his personal discovery of Liesegang rings (note he himself was not the first person to observe the effect but they bear his name since he devoted so much time to researching them.)
As an heir to the founder of Ed. Liesegang oHG, Düsseldorf
, he also owned an factory producing photographic paper
and chemicals. Ed. Liesegang oHG later expanded into optics manufacturing, and sold its photochemical interests.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, photographer and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
born in Elberfeld
Elberfeld
Elberfeld is a municipal subdivision of the German city of Wuppertal; it was an independent town until 1929.-History:The first official mentioning of the geographic area on the banks of today's Wupper River as "elverfelde" was in a document of 1161...
. He is known for his work on Liesegang rings
Liesegang rings
Liesegang rings are a phenomenon seen in many, if not most, chemical systems undergoing a precipitation reaction, under certain conditions of concentration and in the absence of convection.-History:...
He also helped develop the methods of capillary analysis, a precursor to paper chromatography
Paper chromatography
Paper chromatography is an analytical chemistry technique for separating and identifying mixtures that are or can be colored, especially pigments. This can also be used in secondary or primary colors in ink experiments. This method has been largely replaced by thin layer chromatography, however it...
published a paper on the possibility of television (years before the discovery of the electron), contributed to chromosome theory, worked on properties of aerosols and gelatins, the origins of silicosis, the role of carbon dioxide in plant life and the mechanism of both black and white and colour photographic processes.
The son of a painter (then later photographer) Liesegang longed for an artistic career but lacked the ability to draw or paint. His father would later invent a camera and photography would go on to be one of Liesegangs passions. It was research into photographic emulsions that initially lead to his personal discovery of Liesegang rings (note he himself was not the first person to observe the effect but they bear his name since he devoted so much time to researching them.)
As an heir to the founder of Ed. Liesegang oHG, Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, he also owned an factory producing photographic paper
Photographic paper
Photographic paper is paper coated with light-sensitive chemicals, used for making photographic prints.Photographic paper is exposed to light in a controlled manner, either by placing a negative in contact with the paper directly to produce a contact print, by using an enlarger in order to create a...
and chemicals. Ed. Liesegang oHG later expanded into optics manufacturing, and sold its photochemical interests.