Carl Wilhelm Scheele: The Unluckiest Genius in Chemistry
Carl Wilhelm Scheele is often remembered as one of the most unfortunate scientists in history. A brilliant Swedish chemist, he discovered numerous chemical elements—yet received little to no recognition for most of them. His groundbreaking contributions remain largely unknown, and ironically, it was one of his own discoveries that may have led to his tragic death.
A Forgotten Pioneer
During the height of the Industrial Revolution, chemistry played a crucial role in technological progress. Yet, it lacked formal recognition compared to other sciences like geology, physics, and mathematics. Unlike those disciplines, which had established institutions to support and disseminate knowledge, chemistry was often viewed as a low-status, labor-intensive profession.
Many chemists of the time, working independently and without collaboration, often ended up duplicating one another’s work. One such eccentric was Henning Brand, a German alchemist who believed gold could be extracted from human urine due to its yellow color. After collecting and evaporating large quantities of urine, Brand did not find gold, but instead discovered a new element—phosphorus, a glowing, combustible substance far more valuable than gold at the time.
The production of phosphorus was expensive, prompting even the Prussian military to help collect urine for the process. It was at this juncture that Carl Wilhelm Scheele entered the scene.
The Relentless Experimenter
Scheele, born in Sweden but more comfortable speaking German, began his career as a pharmacist. He was a tireless experimenter with a unique talent for isolating and identifying new elements. He developed a more efficient method of extracting phosphorus, showcasing his practical ingenuity.
Among his many achievements, Scheele independently discovered oxygen and wrote a detailed paper on it in 1772. Unfortunately, publication delays meant it was only released in 1774—at the same time as Joseph Priestley’s announcement of the same discovery. As a result, Priestley often received the credit.
Scheele also discovered or isolated chlorine, fluorine, manganese, tungsten, barium, aluminum, nitrogen, ammonia, and glycerin, among others. He was the first to recognize chlorine’s bleaching properties and its potential for commercial use. Despite all this, Scheele received little acknowledgment during his lifetime.
A Tragic End
Scheele had an unusual and dangerous habit: he often tasted the chemicals he worked with, some of which were highly toxic. This dangerous practice likely led to his early death at the age of 43—not 32, as commonly believed. His immense contributions only gained recognition long after his passing.
Carl Wilhelm Scheele was a man of remarkable intellect and persistence, whose scientific legacy was long overshadowed by misfortune. Though his name may not appear alongside the more famous scientists of history, his discoveries form the foundation of modern chemistry. Truly, he was a genius in the shadows—one of science’s greatest unsung heroes.
