Lajos Winkler
Encyclopedia
Lajos Winkler was a Hungarian
analytical chemist. He is best known today for his discovery of the Winkler method for the measurement of oxygen
dissolved in water.
, receiving his doctorate there in 1890, while working with Carl von Than
. He stayed on to work as a lecturer, among other positions, and directed the Institute of Chemistry, starting in 1909, for more than 25 years. He is said to have published several hundred papers, to have helped found the Hungarian Journal of Chemistry, and to have been a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
. See also the study of Vamos for more information and references.
, involved boiling the water sample and collecting, over mercury, the gases released, for subsequent analysis.
In 1888, while still a doctoral student, Lajos Winkler discovered a much safer, and more precise, method of dissolved-oxygen analysis, which is still widely used today. The Winkler method uses the dissolved oxygen to convert manganese(II) hydroxide into manganese(III) hydroxide, and then analyzing for the latter by titration
. The relevant chemical reactions are summarized here and are in print elsewhere.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
analytical chemist. He is best known today for his discovery of the Winkler method for the measurement of oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
dissolved in water.
Life
Relatively little is in print in English concerning the life of Lajos Winkler. Winkler studied science at the Budapest University of ScienceUniversity of Budapest
The Eötvös Loránd University or ELTE, founded in 1635, is the largest university in Hungary, located in Budapest.-History:The university was founded in 1635 in Nagyszombat by the archbishop and theologian Péter Pázmány. Leadership was given over to the Jesuits...
, receiving his doctorate there in 1890, while working with Carl von Than
Carl von Than
Carl von Than or Károly Than was a Hungarian chemist who discovered carbonyl sulfide in 1867.-Life:Anton Károly Than was born in Óbecse, which at that time was part of Austria-Hungary. He interrupted his education and joined the Hungarian army in the war of independence 1848 at the age of 14...
. He stayed on to work as a lecturer, among other positions, and directed the Institute of Chemistry, starting in 1909, for more than 25 years. He is said to have published several hundred papers, to have helped found the Hungarian Journal of Chemistry, and to have been a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is the most important and prestigious learned society of Hungary. Its seat is at the bank of the Danube in Budapest.-History:...
. See also the study of Vamos for more information and references.
Dissolved oxygen
Natural water contains molecular oxygen (O2), necessary for life in ponds, rivers, and so on. A common nineteenth-century for determining dissolved oxygen, as described by Alfred WanklynJames Alfred Wanklyn
James Alfred Wanklyn was a nineteenth-century English chemist who is remember today chiefly for his "ammonia method" of determining water quality and for his fierce arguments with those, such as Edward Frankland, who opposed him over matters related to water analysis. Wanklyn was born in...
, involved boiling the water sample and collecting, over mercury, the gases released, for subsequent analysis.
In 1888, while still a doctoral student, Lajos Winkler discovered a much safer, and more precise, method of dissolved-oxygen analysis, which is still widely used today. The Winkler method uses the dissolved oxygen to convert manganese(II) hydroxide into manganese(III) hydroxide, and then analyzing for the latter by titration
Titration
Titration, also known as titrimetry, is a common laboratory method of quantitative chemical analysis that is used to determine the unknown concentration of an identified analyte. Because volume measurements play a key role in titration, it is also known as volumetric analysis. A reagent, called the...
. The relevant chemical reactions are summarized here and are in print elsewhere.
External links
- - See also the complete on-line copy here.
- - Uses a modified Winkler method and shows a Winkler bottle