Abstract
TOBBEBN OLOF BEBGMAN was born at Katrineberg, Vestergotland, on March 10, 1735. Educated at Uppsala, he first taught mathematics and physics at the University there, before becoming professor of chemistry and mineralogy in 1767. He greatly improved upon the early technique of blowpipe and ‘wet’ methods of analysis. His most important contribution to theoretical chemistry was his “Essay on Elective Attractions”, that is, on chemical affinity. For many years he endeavoured to determine the numerical values for the relative affinities of the elements, bases and acids, but his results were of little significance, since no account was taken of such factors as mass action and the volatility, insolubility, etc. of some of the products of chemical reactions. In the course of his investigations, Bergman discovered the elements molybdenum and tungsten, but it was said of him that “his greatest discovery was Scheele”.
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T. O. Bergman (1735–84). Nature 135, 366 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/135366a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/135366a0