Origins & Early Life

Wilhelm Friedrich Ostwald (German: [ˈvɪlhɛlm ˈɔstvalt] ; 2 September [O.S. 21 August] 1853 – 4 April 1932) was a Baltic German chemist and philosopher. Ostwald is credited with being one of the founders of the field of physical chemistry, with Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff, Walther Nernst and Svante Arrhenius. He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1909 for his scientific contributions to the fields of catalysis, chemical equilibria and reaction velocities.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Following his 1906 retirement from academic life, Ostwald became much involved in philosophy, art, and politics. He made significant contributions to each of these fields. He has been described as a polymath. Ostwald was born ethnically Baltic German in Riga, Russian Empire (now Latvia) to master-cooper Gottfried Wilhelm Ostwald and Elisabeth Leuckel. He was the middle child of three, born after Eugen and before Gottfried.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Ostwald developed an interest in science as a child and conducted experiments at his home, particularly related to fireworks and photography. Ostwald entered the Imperial University of Dorpat (now the University of Tartu, Estonia) in 1872. He completed his Kandidatenschrift examinations...

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