Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich. Short biography Butlerova AM

Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich, whose brief biography is found in practically all textbooks of chemistry, is a well-known Russian chemist, the founder of the scientific school of organic chemistry, the founder of the theory of the structure of organic substances, who predicted and explained the isomerism of a large number of organic compounds and synthesized some of them (urotropine, formaldehyde polymer and etc.). Also Alexander Mikhailovich, whose contribution to science was highly appreciated by DI Mendeleyev, written works on beekeeping and agriculture.

Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich: a short biography

The future scientist was born on September 15, 1828 in the family of a former military man, at that time a landowner. His father Mikhail Vasilievich participated in the war of 1812, and after his resignation he lived with his family in the village of Butlerovka. Mom, Sofya Alexandrovna, died at the age of 19, just after the birth of the child. His childhood, Alexander spent in Butlerovka and his grandfather's estate - the village Podlesnaya Chantala, where he was in the care of his aunts. At the age of 10, the boy was given to a private boarding house, where he mastered French and German well. In 1842, after a terrible fire in Kazan, the boarding school was closed, and Sasha was transferred to the 1st Kazan Gymnasium. In these schools Butlerov collected insects and plants, was very interested in chemistry and conducted his first experiments. The result of one of them was an explosion, and the punishment for Alexander for his deed was the imprisonment in the punishment cell with a plaque on his chest "The Great Chemist".

Years of students

In 1844 Butlerov AM, whose biography is permeated with love for chemistry, became a student of Kazan University, then the center of natural scientific research. At first, the young man was very much interested in zoology and botany, but later his interest in chemistry was affected by the lectures of K. K. Klaus and N. N. Zinin. On their advice, the young man organized a home laboratory, but the theme of the candidate, perhaps because of Zinin's move to Petersburg, were butterflies.

After graduating from the university in 1849, Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich, about which NI Lobachevsky and KK Klaus interceded, devoted himself to teaching and lectured in physical geography, physics and chemistry. Moreover, Alexander Mikhailovich was a fine speaker, knowing how to completely control the attention of the audience thanks to the clarity and rigor of the presentation. In addition to lecturing at the university, Butlerov lectured publicly. These performances the Kazan public sometimes preferred fashionable theatrical productions. He received his master's degree in 1851, that same year he married Glumilina Nadezhda Mikhailovna, niece of Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov. After 3 years he defended his doctoral dissertation at the Moscow University on the topic "About essential oils". After that, he was elected extraordinary at the Kazan University, and a few years later an ordinary professor of chemistry. From 1860 to 1863, against his own will twice served as the rector, and the rector took a fairly difficult period of the university's history: the Kurinte requiem and the abyssal unrest that affected the students and professors.

Trip to Europe

Alexander Mikhailovich actively participated in the activities of the economic society of the city of Kazan, published articles on agriculture, botany and floriculture. Biography Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich has three trips abroad, the first of which took place in 1857-1858. A Russian scientist visited Europe, where he visited chemical industry enterprises and got acquainted with leading chemical laboratories. In one of them, in Paris, he worked for almost six months. During the same period Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich listened to lectures by such outstanding European minds as A. Becquerel, E. Micherlich, J. Liebig, RV Bunsen, and got acquainted with Friedrich August Kekule - a German chemist.

On his return to Kazan Butlerov AM, whose biography arouses interest not only in Russia, but also outside it, refurbished the chemical laboratory and continued studies of the methylene derivatives begun at Wurz. In 1858, the scientist discovered a new way of synthesizing methylene iodide and carried out a number of works connected with the extraction of his derivatives. In the synthesis of methylene diacetate, a formaldehyde polymer was obtained, the product of saponification of the test substance, the result of which was hexamethylenetetramine and methylenenate. Thus, Butlerov for the first time produced a complete synthesis of the sugary substance.

Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich: briefly about the achievements of the scientist

In 1861 Butlerov spoke in Speyer, at the Congress of German Physicians and Naturalists, with a lecture on the chemical structure of matter, which was based on an acquaintance with the state of chemistry abroad, an irresistible interest in the basics of chemistry from the theoretical point of view, and his own experiments produced Throughout the whole scientific activity. His theory, which included the ideas about the ability to form chains by A.Cooper's carbon atoms and A.Kekule's valency, suggested the chemical structure of molecules, by which the scientist understood the method of combining atoms with each other depending on a certain amount of chemical force (affinity) Atom.

Important aspects of the Butlerov theory

The Russian scientist established a close relationship between the structure and chemical properties of a complex organic compound, than he managed to explain the isomerism of many of them, including three pentanes, two isomeric butanes, various alcohols. Butlerov's theory also made it possible to predict possible chemical reactions and explain them.

Thus, in his theory Alexander Mikhailovich Butlerov:

• Showed the inadequacy of the then existing theories of chemistry;
• Emphasized the most important significance of the theory of atomicity;
• Defined the chemical structure as the distribution of affinity forces belonging to atoms, as a result of which atoms, influencing each other (mediocre or direct), combine into a chemical particle;
• Determined 8 rules for the formation of chemical compounds;
• First drew attention to the difference in reactivity of unlike compounds, explained by the lower or higher energy with which atoms are connected, as well as the incomplete or complete expenditure of affinity units in the formation of a bond.

Scientific successes of the Russian chemist

Biography Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich briefly described in school textbooks, with dates of life and the greatest of his achievements in scientific work. On the account of the Russian scientist, a huge number of experiments aimed at confirming his theory. Scientist, previously synthesized, identified in 1864 the structure of tertiary butyl alcohol, in 1866 - isobutane, in 1867 - isobutylene. He also learned the structure of a number of ethylene carbons and polymerized them.

In the years 1867-1868. Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich, whose brief biography arouses genuine interest of scientists around the world, was appointed professor of chemistry at the University of St. Petersburg. Presenting it to the staff of this institution, Mendeleyev emphasized the originality of the Butler doctrine, which is not a continuation of someone's work, but belonging to him personally.

In 1869, Butlerov finally settled in St. Petersburg, where he was elected extraordinary, and then an ordinary academician of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. The period of life in St. Petersburg was very active: the professor continued his experiments, polished the theory of the chemical structure, participated in the life of the public.

Hobbies in the life of a scientist

In 1873, I studied history of chemistry and gave lectures on this subject. He wrote the first in the scientific history of leadership, based on the theory of chemical structure - "Introduction to the full study of organic chemistry." Alexander Mikhailovich Butlerov is the founder of the school of Russian chemists, otherwise referred to as the "bootler school." In parallel with the study of chemistry, he was actively interested in agriculture. In particular, he was interested in growing tea in the Caucasus, gardening and beekeeping. His brochures "How to drive bees" and "The bee, her life and the main rules of intelligent beekeeping" were republished many times, and in 1886 the journal "Russian beekeeping leaf" was founded by him.

In the years 1880-1883. Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich, whose brief biography is interesting and replete with important discoveries for science, was the president of the Russian Physico-Technical Community. In the same period, the scientist became very interested in spiritualism, which he met in the Aksakov estate in 1854. Later, the Russian chemist closely approached his cousin, Aksakov's wife, A. N., who published a journal on spiritualism, "Mental Studies," and fervently defended his hobby before the friends and friends who condemned him.

The value of the works of Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich for chemistry

In retirement Alexander Mikhailovich was to leave in 1875, after 25 years of service. The Council of St. Petersburg University twice delayed this term for 5 years. The last lecture of Alexander Mikhailovich Butlerov was held on March 14, 1885. He suffered health, undermined by intensive scientific work and social activities: unexpectedly for all Butlerov died at his estate on August 5, 1886. The scientist was buried in the rural cemetery of his native Butlerovka, now defunct, in the family chapel.

Butlerov's works were universally recognized during his lifetime, his scientific school is considered an integral part of the development of chemistry in Russia, and the biography of Butlerov Alexander Mikhailovich is a genuine interest of scientists and students. Alexander Mikhailovich himself was a very charming and versatile person with a sociable character, broad-mindedness, good-naturedness and condescending attitude towards students.