Hennig Brand

Hennig Brand (c. 1630, † 1692 ) was a German chemist and alchemist.

Fire discovered in 1669 in Hamburg when trying to find the " philosopher's stone", the phosphorus and thus the first element in the chemistry of modern history. He received the off-white, self-luminous in the dark substance by heating the urine of air.

1675 Brand told his friends from Phosphorus, and soon there was talk of the town in Hamburg. From now on, he called himself "Doctor ". The Greek word " phosphorus " means " light bearer ".

The Alchemist and academics John Kunckle had dealt with luminescence for some time, and when he heard of Brands discovery, he came from Wittenberg to see it with my own eyes. He wrote them to some of his colleagues alchemist Johann Daniel Kraft in Dresden. Kunckle wanted to buy phosphorus of fire, but did not give it here because he suspected that Kunckle wanted to find out the secret of making.

Power came to Hamburg to write without Kunckle of it, and behind Kunckel back sold at fire power of in-stock phosphorus on the condition not to tell anyone. Later fire wrote but even on sale to Kunckle that occurred to spoofed. From now on, he mocked fire and denied his right to the title of Doctor. By the time Kunckle found out for yourself how he could produce phosphorus, but apparently he was of lower quality than the brand.

Power made ​​money with it, imagine the phosphorus various crowned heads of Europe. One of them was the Duke John Frederick of Saxony, and in this demonstration, Gottfried Leibniz was present. As Leibniz came to Hamburg in 1677, he learned that fire also had phosphorus, and visited him. Brand was once again short of money and sold Leibniz into the secrets.

Leibniz returned to Hanover and recommended fire to the Duke, who offered him six months salary in advance for the secret. Fire tried to get a better salary and negotiated again with force and with the Duke of Mecklenburg- Güstrow, but he accepted at the end of the brokered by Leibniz offer.

So fire went in 1678 to Hanover, straightened and made a phosphorus. But after a short time he returned to Hamburg and promised to manufacture more phosphorus there, it did not. Leibniz admonished, and in December said fire, he and his children were sick and unable to work and demanded more money.

With increased content returned fire in 1679 he returned to Hanover and presented again phosphorus ago. Leibniz published an essay on the manufacturer, but without mentioning names Brands. But if you asked him, he admitted that fire had taught him the making.

Also in 1679 came Ambrose Godfrey, assistant to Robert Boyle, to London, to visit fire because Boyle's attempts were unsuccessful ( Boyle 1677 experienced by power from the phosphorus). Brand told him that high temperatures are necessary, and Godfrey later became one of the most successful early phosphorus manufacturer.

385330
de