Hieronymous Theodor Richter

Hieronymus Theodor Richter ( born November 21, 1824 in Dresden, † September 25, 1898 in Freiberg ) was a German chemist and mineralogist.

Life

From 1843 to 1847 he studied at the Mining Academy Freiberg and became a member of Corps Saxo - Borussia Freiberg. He then worked at the Freiberg smelting works, since 1853 as a cabin chemist.

In 1863 he became professor of Lötrohrprobierkunst at the Freiberg Mining Academy; 1866 to 1873 he was Head of the Laboratory of the hut Freiberg smelting works. Then he devoted himself to teaching and lectures on hut metallurgical Assaying.

From 1875 to 1896 worked as rector Theodor Richter ( Magnificence ) of the Mining Academy and was the last of the Freiberg rectors, who were elected for this office for life. Richter died in 1898 in Freiberg and was buried in the cemetery Donat.

Services

The most significant achievement was the judge spectroscopic investigation of black sphalerite, where he in 1863, together with Ferdinand Reich discovered the chemical element indium. The name of indium chose the discoverer because of the indigo blue spectral color.

Publications (selection)

• Preliminary note on a new metal. - In: Journal of practical chemistry. 89 (1863 ), pp. 441-442.
• About the indium. - In: Journal of practical chemistry. 90 (1863 ), pp. 172-176 and 92 (1864 ), pp. 480-485.
• Probirkunst with the blowpipe (1865 )

Honors

The described by August Breithaupt in 1865, new mineral richterite was named after him.