Famous Russian Chemists

Dmitri Mendeleev was a Russian chemist and inventor known for formulating the Periodic Law and creating a version of the periodic table of elements. He corrected properties of known elements such as uranium's valence and atomic weight using the Periodic Law. Mendeleev also successfully predicted the properties of three yet-to-be-discovered elements: germanium, gallium, and scandium. His contributions to chemistry revolutionized the field and laid the foundation for modern periodic tables and our understanding of the elements.

Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii was a Russian chemist and photographer known for his pioneering work in colour photography. He travelled the Russian Empire from around 1909 to 1915, using a railway-car darkroom provided by Emperor Nicholas II to document various aspects of early 20th-century Russia. His three-image colour photography technique captured the essence of the region. After his death, most of his negatives ended up in the US Library of Congress, where they were digitised and combined digitally to create high-quality colour images of Russia and its neighbours from over a century ago.

Viscount Ilya Romanovich Prigogine was a Belgian physical chemist of Russian-Jewish origin known for his groundbreaking research on dissipative structures, complex systems, and irreversibility. His pioneering work led to significant contributions in the field of chemistry and earned him prestigious accolades, including the 1977 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Francqui Prize in 1955, and the Rumford Medal in 1976. Throughout his professional life, Prigogine made lasting impacts on the scientific community through his innovative studies and theoretical advancements in the realm of physical chemistry.

Vladimir Vasilyevich Markovnikov was a prominent Russian chemist recognized for his significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry. He is best known for formulating Markovnikov's rule, which elucidates the regioselectivity in the addition reactions of hydrogen halides and alkenes. Markovnikov's work has had a lasting impact on the understanding of chemical reactions and has been instrumental in advancing the knowledge and application of organic chemistry principles. His research and discoveries continue to be studied and referenced in the field to this day.

Nikolay Nikolayevich Semyonov was a prominent Soviet physicist and chemist known for his groundbreaking work on the mechanism of chemical transformation. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1956 in recognition of his significant contributions to the field. Semyonov's research focused on advancing the understanding of chemical reactions at the molecular level, leading to important discoveries that have had a lasting impact on the scientific community. His work has helped shape the foundation of modern chemistry and his legacy continues to inspire future generations of scientists.

Germain Henri Hess was a prominent Swiss-Russian chemist and doctor known for formulating Hess' law, a fundamental principle in thermochemistry. His contributions revolutionized the field of chemistry by establishing the concept that the heat change in a chemical reaction is independent of the pathway taken. Hess conducted extensive research in the areas of chemical energetics and stoichiometry, leading to significant advancements in understanding the principles governing chemical reactions and energy transformations. His work continues to be a cornerstone in the study of thermochemistry.

Karl Ernst Claus, a Russian chemist and naturalist of Baltic German origin, was a distinguished professor at Kazan State University and a respected member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He made significant contributions to the field of chemistry by discovering the chemical element ruthenium, which he named after Russia. Additionally, Claus was known for his pioneering work in applying quantitative methods in botany, establishing himself as one of the early scientists to utilize such approaches in the field.

Vladimir Ipatieff was a prominent Russian and American chemist known for his significant contributions in the areas of petroleum chemistry and catalysts. Throughout his professional life, he conducted groundbreaking research in these fields, leading to advancements in catalytic processes and fuel production. Ipatieff's work played a crucial role in shaping the understanding of chemical reactions and catalysis, influencing the development of various industrial processes. His expertise and innovations continue to have a lasting impact on the field of chemistry and scientific research.

Gustav Heinrich Johann Apollon Tammann was a distinguished Baltic German chemist-physicist known for his significant contributions to the fields of glassy and solid solutions, heterogeneous equilibria, crystallization, and metallurgy. Throughout his professional life, he conducted groundbreaking research that greatly advanced the understanding of these areas, earning him recognition as a leading expert in the field. Tammann's work played a crucial role in expanding the knowledge of materials science and influencing the development of various industrial processes related to glass, metals, and crystalline structures.

Friedrich Konrad Beilstein was a Russian chemist known for founding the Handbook of Organic Chemistry, now called the Beilstein database. He studied under renowned chemists such as Robert Bunsen and Justus Liebig, focusing on organic chemistry. Beilstein served as a professor and editor of a chemistry journal, conducting research on isomerism of benzene derivatives. He compiled the handbook single-handedly, with subsequent editions expanded by the German Chemical Society. Beilstein's contributions to chemistry were significant and enduring, solidifying his legacy in the field.

Sergei Vasilievich Lebedev was a prominent Russian/Soviet chemist known for inventing polybutadiene synthetic rubber, a groundbreaking achievement that revolutionized the rubber industry. His invention marked the first commercially successful and widely produced form of synthetic rubber, offering a more cost-effective and versatile alternative to natural rubber. Lebedev's pioneering work significantly impacted various industries, including automotive, manufacturing, and construction, demonstrating his profound expertise in chemical innovation and his lasting legacy in the field of material science.

Alexander Butlerov was a prominent Russian chemist known for his significant contributions to the field of chemistry. He is credited with creating the theory of chemical structure, incorporating double bonds into structural formulas, and discovering important compounds such as hexamine and formaldehyde. Butlerov also proposed the tetrahedral arrangement of valence bonds in carbon compounds. His work laid the foundation for modern organic chemistry and he is considered one of the pioneers in the field. The crater Butlerov on the Moon is named in his honor.