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Home > Dictionary of Science Quotations > Scientist Names Index R > Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge Quotes

Thumbnail of Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge (source)
Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge
(8 Feb 1795 - 25 Mar 1867)

German chemist who pioneered the now widely used chemical separation technique of paper chromatography.


Science Quotes by Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge (2 quotes)

After Goethe had expressed to me his greatest satisfaction regarding the account of the man [whom I’d] rescued [from serving in Napoleon’s army] by apparent “black star” [i.e., amaurosis, blindness] as well as the other, he handed me a carton of coffee beans, which a Greek had sent him as a delicacy. “You can also use these in your investigations,” said Goethe. He was right; for soon thereafter I discovered therein caffeine, which became so famous on account of its high nitrogen content.
— Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge
Translated from the original German, “Nachdem Goethe mir seine größte Zufriedenheit sowol über die Erzählung des durch scheinbaren schwarzen Staar Geretteten, wie auch über das andere ausgesprochen, übergab er mir noch eine Schachtel mit Kaffeebohnen, die ein Grieche ihm als etwas Vorzügliches gesandt. "Auch diese können sie zu Ihren Untersuchungen brauchen," sagte Goethe. Er hatte recht; denn bald darauf entdeckte ich darin das, wegen seines großen Stickstoffgehaltes so berühmt gewordene Coffein.” in Hauswirtschaftlichen Briefen (Domestic Letters, 1866). Reprinted in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe with F.W. von Biedermann (ed.), Goethes Gespräche, Vol. 10: Nachträge, 1755–1832 (1896), 95.
Science quotes on:  |  Caffeine (3)  |  Coffee (21)  |  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (150)  |  Nitrogen (32)

In the case of chemical investigations known as decompositions or analyses, it is first important to determine exactly what ingredients you are dealing with, or chemically speaking, what substances are contained in a given mixture or composite. For this purpose we use reagents, i.e., substances that possess certain properties and characteristics, which we well know from references or personal experience, such that the changes which they bring about or undergo, so to say the language that they speak thereby inform the researcher that this or that specific substance is present in the mixture in question.
— Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge
From Zur Farben-Chemie Musterbilder für Freunde des Schönen und zum Gebrauch für Zeichner, Maler, Verzierer und Zeugdrucker [On Colour Chemistry...] (1850), Introduction. Translation tweaked by Webmaster from version in Herbert and W. Roesky and Klaud Möckel, translated by T.N. Mitchell and W.E. Russey, Chemical Curiosities: Spectacular Experiments and Inspired Quotes (1996), 1. From the original German, “Bei solchen chemischen Untersuchungen, die man zersetzende oder zergliedernde nennt, kommt es zunächst darauf an, zu ermitteln, mit welchen Stoffen man es zu thun hat, oder um chemisch zu reden, welche Stoffe in einem bestimmten Gemenge oder Gemisch enthalten sind. Hierzu bedient man sich sogenannter gegenwirkender Mittel, d. h. Stoffe, die bestimmte Eigenschaften und Eigenthümlichkeiten besitzen und die man aus Ueberlieferung oder eigner Erfahrung genau kennt, so daß die Veränderungen, welche sie bewirken oder erleiden, gleichsam die Sprache sind, mit der sie reden und dadurch dem Forscher anzeigen, daß der und der bestimmte Stoff in der fraglichen Mischung enthalten sei.”
Science quotes on:  |  Analysis (244)  |  Certain (557)  |  Change (639)  |  Characteristic (154)  |  Chemical (303)  |  Composite (4)  |  Contain (68)  |  Decomposition (19)  |  Determination (80)  |  Determine (152)  |  Exactly (14)  |  Experience (494)  |  First (1302)  |  Inform (50)  |  Ingredient (16)  |  Investigation (250)  |  Know (1538)  |  Known (453)  |  Language (308)  |  Man (2252)  |  Mixture (44)  |  Personal (75)  |  Possess (157)  |  Present (630)  |  Property (177)  |  Purpose (336)  |  Question (649)  |  Reagent (8)  |  Reference (33)  |  Researcher (36)  |  Say (989)  |  Speak (240)  |  Speaking (118)  |  Specific (98)  |  Substance (253)  |  Undergo (18)  |  Use (771)


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  • 8 Feb - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Runge's birth.

Carl Sagan Thumbnail In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion. (1987) -- Carl Sagan
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