August Kekulé: 150th anniversary of textbook on organic chemistry

28 October 2011
University of Ghent

The work of Freidrich August Kekulé von Stradonitz was honoured by a RSC Chemical Landmark ceremony held at the University of Ghent on 28 October 2011. The award was presented during the International Year of Chemistry, which had been a yearlong celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind.

German born August Kekulé (1829 - 1896) was one of Europe's most prominent chemists during the second half of the 19th century and his work forms one of the principal foundations of the theory of chemical structure. Whilst at Ghent, Kekulé elaborated the structure of benzene, having dreamt about serpents seizing their own tails, effectively opening the way for the development of organic aromatic chemistry. The laboratory that he created at Ghent marked the establishment of chemical science and industry in Belgium, and inspired generations of Belgian chemists.

2011 marked the 150th anniversary of the publication of his landmark textbook on organic chemistry 'Lehrbuch der Organische Chemie', in 1861.