History of chemistry

History of chemistry (KS4)

Name of scientist Date Chemical discovery or invention

The Chinese discovered how to make gunpowder and used
1000
it to propel missiles and rockets.
Count Alessandro Volta Italian who devised the first voltaic cell by dipping
1800
(1745–1827) different metals in brine (concentrated sea water).

John Dalton British chemist who put forward the idea that elements
1803
(1766–1844) consisted of small, indivisible particles (atoms).

Count Amadeo Avogadro Italian who investigated gases and concluded equal
1811 volumes have the same number of particles (Avogadro
(1776–1856) constant).

Sir Humphrey Davy British inventor who when investigating fire damp
1816 (methane) in coal mines invented the ‘Davy lamp’. This
(1778–1829) lamp did not ignite the flammable methane.
Hans Christian Oersted Danish scientist who was the first to extract aluminium
1827
(1777–1851) metal by electrolysis of its molten salt.

James Neilson Scottish inventor of the blast furnace which allowed the
1828
(1792–1855) first large scale extraction of iron.

Robert Bunsen German chemist who invented the heating device called
1855
(1811–1899) the Bunsen burner.

Alfred Nobel Swedish inventor of dynamite who left his fortune to

1866
(1833–1896) establish the annual Nobel Prizes.

Dimitri Mendeleev Russian chemist who devised the modern periodic table
1869
(1834–1907) which shows the periodic properties of elements.

Sir Joseph Thomson English scientist who first discovered negative particles in
1897 atoms which were later called electrons. He was awarded
(1856–1940) a Nobel Prize in 1906.

Marie Curie Polish born chemist who conducted pioneering research

1911 on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel
(1867–1934) Prize in 1911.

Niels Bohr Danish scientist who changed the ‘plum pudding’ model
1913 of atoms to a small nucleus with orbiting electrons at
(1885–1962) specific distances away from the nucleus.
James Chadwick English scientist who discovered the neutron particle in
1932
(1891–1974) the nucleus of atoms.

Percy Julian African American scientist who pioneered the chemical

1935 synthesis of drugs such as cortisone, steroids and birth
(1899–1975) control pills.

Dorothy Hodgkin A British chemist who developed the technique of X-ray

1964 crystallography. She won the Nobel Prize for chemistry in
(1910–1994) 1964.

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 History of chemistry
Try this crossword about famous chemists. All answers are to be found somewhere in the
previous table.
Answer the ten clues across to identify 1 down which is the surname of another famous chemist
who was the first scientist to ‘split the atom’ and realise atoms had positive particles (protons)
in their nucleus. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1908.

10

Across

1. The first name of the chemist who invented the heating device which is still used in school
laboratories today. [6]
2. The first name of the inventor of the famous safety lamp which was used in coal mines to
prevent the naked flame of the lamp from igniting flammable gases in the mine. [7]
3. Name of the chemist who first put forward the idea of matter being made of very small
particles. [6]
4. Name of the scientist who first identified the presence of negative particles inside atoms. [8]
5. Name of the inventor of the furnace used to extract iron from its ore. [7]
6. Name of the scientist who suggested that electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom in fixed
orbits. [4]
7. The first name of the scientist who provided the money to establish annual prizes for
chemistry and prizes for other sciences, medicine and peace. [6]
8. Scientist who gave his name to the fixed number of particles that are found in a mole of a
substance. [8]
9. Name of the scientist who was the first to extract aluminium metal from its ore by
electrolysis. [7]
10. Name of the scientist who discovered a neutral particle in the nucleus of atoms. [8]

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 History of chemistry
Answers

1
R O B E R T
2
H U M P H R Y
3
D A L T O N
4
T H O M P S O N
5
N E I L S O N
6
B O H R
7
A L F R E D
8
A V O G A D R O
9
O E R S T E D
10
C H A D W I C K

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