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presented by

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Group Members:
Michelle Zheng, Nancy Wen, Jessica Hoang, Jacky Ouyang



Emil Erlenmeyer
Emil Erlenmeyer



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Richard August Carl Emil Erlenmeyer, also known as Emil Erlenmeyer, was a German chemist born on June 28th 1825 in Taunusstein, Germany.

At the age of 20, he started to study medicine in the University of Giessen. When he heard one of Justus von Liebigs lectures, he was so intrigued by the field of chemistry that he switched to study that instead. This led to his career in chemistry.


There was tough competition for spots in Liebig’s laboratory so he began wandering around looking for different research groups. When his money ran out, his father insisted that he become a pharmacist.


Some time after, he worked in Robert Wilhelm Bunsen’s laboratory on fertilisers.


He started to teach as a professor of chemistry, at the Munich Polytechnic School from 1868, when he was 43. He retired in 1883 due to health reasons but he still continued to be a consultant. He died at the age of 83, on January 22nd, 1909 in Aschaffenburg, Germany.



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In 1861, Erlenmeyer created the Erlenmeyer flask. For more details, see below.

As well as educating at Munich Polytechnic School, Emil Erlenmeyer also formulated a principle called the Erlenmeyer Rule, in 1880. He tried to create alcohol from hydroxyls. After many failed attempts, he concluded that all alcohols changed immediately to aldehydes or ketones, as all alcohols in which the hydroxyl group is attached directly to a double-bonded carbon atom become such compounds. Erlenmeyer was one of the first people to investigate into this. The Erlenmeyer Rule is also known as Keto-enol tautomerism .

Emil Erlenmeyer also invented the asbestos gauze, also known as the wire gauze to Chemistry 11 students [refer to the picture in Health Chemistry: Laboratory Experiments, page ix]. This invention prevents thermal shock from glassware that have been heated by the Bunsen burner flame before the time of Pyrex® Laboratory Glassware.

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Richard August Carl Emil Erlenmeyer’s name can also be shortened to R.A.C.E Erlenmeyer.

Also, there is an X-File episode titled “The Erlenmeyer Flask.”


During the time working with Robert Bunsen in the study of fertilizers, Bunsen did not allow his associates to teach so Erlenmeyer took some of his wife’s money to mortgage a shed that he converted to a laboratory and he secretly began teaching students.

Throughout his career, he was involved in many writing research articles and theoretical organic chemistry.
Emil Erlenmeyer spent a lot of time classifying ideas and concepts. He made new terms to better explain theories. He established that to organize an issue is to prepare for its resolution. [Isn’t it profound? Too bad it’s not a quote.]

Richard August Carl Emil Erlenmeyer had a son who is referred to as Emil Jr. His full name is Friedrich Gustav Carl Emil Erlenmeyer. Like father and son, they both have really long names and they are both chemists. Emil Jr. was born in 1864; meaning Richard Emil Erlenmeyer was 39 when he had a child!

Just like other laboratory glassware, the Erlenmeyer flask can be used in the production of illegal drugs. In an attempt to restrict these productions, some areas need permission to buy laboratory glassware, including Erlenmeyer flasks.


There are also other uses for the Erlenmeyer Flask such as, a tea cup.


Drinking tea out of an Erlenmeyer Flask
Drinking tea out of an Erlenmeyer Flask


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In 1861, Richard Erlenmeyer created the conical flask, which now bears his name, the Erlenmeyer flask. He created this flask because he needed something practical for all his experiments, from heating solutions to stirring its contents.

This flask is fairly similar to the beaker in the sense that they both have flat bottoms. This feature makes the Erlenmeyer flask less likely to tip over in comparison with the Florence flask and the Round-bottom flask. It is also good for heating solutions. The conical (cone-like) shape allows for its contents to be swirled or stirred during an experiment. The distinguishing aspect to the Erlenmeyer flask in comparison with the beaker is the narrow, cylindrical neck. This attribute keeps the contents from spilling and slows evaporative loss better than the beaker. As an added bonus, a rubber stopper can stopper the neck. There a markings on its side to indicate the approximate volume. Some may say the conical flask is one of the best lab equipment available.


There are other uses for this innovative flask, like a tea cup as shown in the picture above.



Erlenmeyer Flask
Erlenmeyer Flask





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This little 3-minute video is hosted by Elly, the Erlenmeyer Flask, with the special addition of her Chem buddies, Bee, Ms. Kim's 10 mL beaker, and Cinda, the graduated cylinder. The video gives some history on Erlenmeyer and the Erlenmeyer flask while explaining about acid and base neutralization. Enjoy!



PS. Acid and base should make salt water; the ending was just for fun.
PPS. Cinda is supposed to be a graduated cylinder but I accidently forgot to draw in its supportive flat base, so it looks like a test tube. Sorry! ~ Jessica





And that ends our presentation. We hope you liked it!

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BBC – h2g2 – Richard August Carl Emil Erlenmeyer (1825 – 1909). 15 Aug. 2008. h2g2. 3 Oct. 2008. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A38567154
>.

Chemistry – Acids & Bases. Tripod. 3 Oct. 2008. <
http://qldscienceteachers.tripod.com/junior/chem/acid.html>.

Emil Erlenmeyer – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 3 Oct. 2008. <
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Erlenmeyer>.

Erlenmeyer flask – Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 3 Oct. 2008. <
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erlenmeyer_flask>.

Melvin D.. “Acid-Base Chemistry”. Acid- Base Chemistry – Chemistry Encyclopedia – Neutralization, Strengths of Acid and Bases, Br.
<
http://www.chemistryexplained.com/A-Ar/Acid-Base-Chemistry.html.>

Richard August Carl Emil Erlenmeyer: Biography from Answers.com. Answers.com. 3 Oct. 2008.
<
http://www.answers.com/topic/richard-august-carl-emil-erlenmeyer>.

Richard Erlenmeyer | World of Chemistry Biography. World of Chemistry. 3 Oct. 2008. <
http://www.bookrags.com/biography/richard-erlenmeyer-woc/>.