Justus, baron von Liebig (1803-1873)

German chemist

He made many important contributions to the early systematization

of organic chemistry and biochemistry, chemical education, and
agricultural chemistry. He was the first to demonstrate the existence
of free radicals and did much to clarify the properties of acids. He
developed simple analytical methods (see analysis) that greatly aided
his work analyzed many tissues and body fluids and showed that plants
use carbon dioxide, water, and ammonia. In later years his reputation
became so great that he was regarded as the final authority on chemical
matters, and he was often involved in scientific controversies.

Major contributions to the field of Soil Science:

1. Discovery of the importance of nitrogen as a nutrient for plant growth.
In his famous work, "Organic Chemistry in its Applications to Agriculture and Physiology," published in 1840,
Liebig proposed that plants do not obtain nitrogen directly from the soil, but rather from organic matter. He
introduced the concept that nitrogen is a critical component of plant nutrition, which revolutionized agricultural
practices and led to the development of nitrogen-based fertilizers. This insight significantly advanced the
understanding of soil fertility and the principles of agricultural chemistry.

2. Foundations of organic chemistry

Liebig’s significant contribution to chemistry education in Germany was his improvement of organic analysis.
He introduced a method that allowed for the precise determination of carbon content in organic compounds.
This technique, perfected in 1831, was simple and quick, allowing chemists to run six or seven analyses per
day. Liebig's technical breakthrough, rather than abandoning the belief that organic compounds could be
controlled by "vital forces," was the key factor in the emergence of biochemistry and clinical chemistry.

3. Developments in agricultural, animal, and food chemistry

Liebig’s published Die organische Chemie in ihrer Anwendung auf Agricultur und Physiologie, which argued
that a rational system of agriculture cannot be formed without the application of scientific principles. Liebig's
work led to the development of chemical manures, which were later proven to be inefficient and uneconomic.
His aphorism, "The measure of a country's civilization lay in the amount of sulfuric acid it consumes every
year," became widely known.

In 1842, Liebig published a sequel, Animal Chemistry or Organic Chemistry in ihrer Anwendung auf
Physiologie und Pathologie, which is considered a foundational writing of modern biochemistry. His novel
approach to examining metabolism from a chemical viewpoint inspired decades of further research. Liebig's
interest in the chemistry of food led him to discover better ways to cook meat and improve its nutritional
qualities. He also improved the commercial processing of artificial milk for infants, the baking of whole-meal
bread, and the silvering of mirrors.
References (sa dulo to)

Brock, W., (2023). Justus, baron von Liebig. Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/science/organic-chemistry