Elements Since 1800

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HOME PAGE Elements(pre-1800) Prelude to Modern Chemistry(1400-1799) Science, Technology, Art(1400-1799)

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Go to General, Analytical and Physical Chemistry (1800-1960) ( = GEN )
Go to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (1800-1960) ( = ORG/BIO )

Pre-1800: Oxides of nitrogen first used in making H₂SO₄
LEBLANC: Soda Process

DISCOVERY OF ELEMENTS

DECADE

TECHNICAL / INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS

1801: Niobium (originally called columbium) ---

HATCHETT
1802: Tantalum--- EKEBERG
1803: Cerium--- BERZELIUS

1803: Palladium--- WOLLASTON
1803: Rhodium--- WOLLASTON

1804: Osmium--- TENNANT
1804: Iridium--- TENNANT

1807: Sodium--- DAVY
1807: Potassium--- DAVY

1808: Magnesium---DAVY
1808: Calcium--- DAVY
1808: Strontium--- DAVY
1808: Barium--- DAVY

1808: Boron--- GAY-LUSSAC,
THENARD, DAVY

1800

GEN
ORG/BIO
1801: First beet-sugar factory (Silesia)

Oxyhydrogen blowpipe

Bone-black first used in sugar refining.
Vacuum pans first used.

1811: Iodine--- COURTOIS

1817: Cadmium--- STROMEYER
1817: Lithium--- ARFVEDSON
1818: Selenium--- BERZELIUS

GROTTHUSS' Photochemical Absorption Law.

Further developments by

DRAPER and BUNSEN.

1810
DAVY: miner's safety lamp.

DAVY: Platinum catalyst.

Pyrite first used in making H₂SO₄.
Rosin for paper size.

BERZELIUS' "JAHRESBERICHT." (Annual Report)

(1821-1848)
1824: Silicon--- BERZELIUS
1824: Zirconium--- BERZELIUS

1825: Aluminum--- OERSTED

1826: Bromine--- BALARD

1828: Beryllium--- WÖHLER

1829: Thorium--- BERZELIUS

1820
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GEN
ORG/BIO
The Quick Vinegar Process.

Portland cement.
Babbitt metal.
Kerosene illuminant.
High-pressure boiler.

Hot air used in blast furnace.
{Other reference to blast furnace}.
Galvanized iron.
Chilean nitrate.
Invention of dynamo.
Oxalic acid from wood.--- GUY-LUSSAC
LIEBIG: First systematic laboratory instruction in chemistry.

1830: Vanadium--- SEFSTRÖM

1839: Lanthanum--- MOSANDER
1830
Beginning of LIEBIG's "ANNALEN".
LIEBIG's new methods for analysis of
carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
Phosphorus matches.

Induction coil.

Beginnings of electro-metallurgy.
DAGUERRE--- Photography.
Manganese steel.
Utilization of blast-furnace gases.
Other reference to blast furnace.
Vulcanization of rubber.
Multiple-effect evaporator.
Mercerizing process.

Photochemical work of DRAPER.

1843: Yttrium, Erbium, and Terbium---
MOSANDER

1844: Ruthenium--- CLAUS

1840
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GEN
ORG/BIO
Pneumatic tire.

Anesthetics.

Wood pulp for paper.
Guncotton.
Safety match.

1852: BUNSEN and ROSCOE's photochemical work.

BUNSEN and KIRCHHOFF's photochemical work led to their discoveries of Rubidium and Cesium and later, the discovery of
1850
Pyroxlin laquer.

DEVILLE: Al by Na reduction of AlCl₃
BESSEMER Converter.

1856: PERKIN: mauve
KNAB: retort coke oven.
BUNSEN's "GASOMETRISCHE METHODEN."

First oil well.
Chrome tanning.

1861: Rubidium and 1860: Cesium---

BUNSEN and KIRCHHOFF

1861: Thallium--- CROOKES

(thallium metal produced in 1861 by LAMY)

1863: Indium---
REICH and V. RICHTER

Formula of ozone--- SORET

Helium spectum in sun---
LOCKYER and JANSSEN

1860
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GEN
ORG/BIO
Regenerative blast-furnace stoves.
Storage cell.
Dynamite.

SOLVAY Soda Process.
Beginning of metallography--- SORBY.

SIEMENS' Open Hearth Steel Process.
Chrome steel.
Tungsten tool steel.

Celluloid, the first plastic.
1869: MENDELEEV's Periodic Table.

1875: Gallium--- BOISBAUDRAN

1879: Ytterbium--- MARIGNAC

1879: Scandium--- NILSON

1879: Thulium and Holmium--- CLEVE

1870
Electric arc lighting.

DEACON Process for chlorine.

KNAB-CARVES coke oven (which preceded the Semet-Solvay oven.
Ferromanganese
American Chemical Society founded.

1880: Samarium--- BOISBAUDRAN
1880: Gadolinium--- MARIGNAC
1885: Praseodymium and Neodymium---

WELSBACH

1886: Dysprosium--- BOISBAUDRAN
1886: Germanium--- WINKLER
1886: Fluorine--- MOISSAN

1880
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GEN
ORG/BIO
BRIN Process for oxygen.

OTTO-HOFFMANN oven.
Mineral floation process.

HALL Process for aluminum.
THE ELECTRIC FURNACE carborundum

(SiC, for grindstones, etc.)
Rotary converter.
Electric welding.

1894: Argon--- RAYLEIGH
1895: Helium---
RAMSAY and CLEVE
1898: Neon, Xenon, and Krypton---
RAMSAY and TRAVERS

1898: Polonium and Radium---
M. and P. CURIE
1899: Actinium--- DEBIERNE

1890
FRASCH process for obtaining sulfur
THE ELECTRIC FURNACE (continued)

calcium carbide

Cyanamide and NITROGEN FIXATION

1894: Foundations of the Arc Process (RAYLEIGH)

Birkeland-Eyde Process (see 1903).

1900: Radon--- DORN
1901: Europium---DEMARCAY

Liquification of hydrogen

1905: EINSTEIN: Photoelectrical theory.

Special theory of relativity.

MASS-ENERGY EQUIVALENCE

( E = mc²)
1907: Lutetium---
URBAIN and WELSBACH.

Liquification of helium--- ONNES

1900
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GEN
ORG/BIO
1900: OSTWALD Process for oxidation of NH₃.

Contact Process for H₂SO₄

1903: BIRKELAND-EYDE Process.
Mechanical classifier.

1905: HABER Process practicable. (perfected after 1910)

Aniline rubber accelerators.

1909: "Bakelite" phenol-formaldehyde resins early plastic
Continuous vacuum filters.

EINSTEIN: Law of Photochemical Equivalence.

Hydrides of boron and silicon--- STOCK
1917: Protactinium---
HAHN and MEITNER

ASTON: Mass Spectrograph

1910
BURTON Process for petroleum "cracking."

HABER Process perfected.

Earliest POLYMERS, their chemistry and synthesis.

MILLIKAN--- Cosmic rays.

COMPTON effect.

1923: Hafnium---
D. COSTER and HEVESY
1925: Rhenium--- NODDACK, et al.

1925: PAULI exclusion principle.

1926: SCHRÖDINGER: wave mechanics.

1927: HEISENBERG uncertainty principle.

1920
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GEN
ORG/BIO
POLYMERS: Chemical Synthesis

SYNTHETIC FIBERS, PLASTICS

& SYNTHETIC RUBBERS:

Rayon
Polysulfides
Casein
Nitrocellulose lacquers
Cellulose acetates
Urea formaldehyde
Duprene

FISCHER-TROPSCH catalyst (Fe/Co)

and process (CO + H₂ hydrocarbons)
Vapor-phase cracking

1932: Neutron--- CHADWICK

UREY--- Deuterium Heavy water

N¹⁵ C¹³

1939: Technetium---
PERRIER and SEGRÉ
1939: Francium--- PEREY

1930
SYNTHETIC FIBERS, PLASTICS

& SYNTHETIC RUBBERS:

Acrylics
Ethyl cellulose
Polyvinyl chloride
Vinyl butyral
Polystyrene
Polyamides
Melamines
Polyvinylidene chloride

Boron carbide
Bromine from sea
BERGIUS process (hydrogenate coal hydrocarbons)

1940: Astatine--- CORSON, et al.
1940: Neptunium---

McMILLAN and ABELSON

1940: Plutonium--- SEABORG, et al.
1944: Americium--- SEABORG, et al.
1944: Curium--- SEABORG, et al.

1945: Promethium---

MARINSKY and GLENDENIN

Berkelium--- SEABORG
Californium--- SEABORG

1940
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GEN
ORG/BIO
SYNTHETIC FIBERS, PLASTICS

& SYNTHETIC RUBBERS:

Polyethylene
Butadiene copolymers
Polyesters
Silicones
Tetrafluoroethylene
Organosols & plastisols
Epoxides
Chlorotrifluoroethylene

BARUCH Report

(plan for world government)

LIBBY--- C¹⁴ Dating
Tritium dating

1954: Einsteinium--- SEABORG et al.
1954: Fermium--- SEABORG et al.
1955: Mendelevium--- SEABORG, et al.
1957: Nobelium--- FIELDS, et al.

Tritium dating.

1950

SYNTHETIC FIBERS, PLASTICS

& SYNTHETIC RUBBERS:

Urethanes
Cis-polyisoprene
Polypropylene

First nuclear fission electricity.
Isoniazid
Syndets (synthetic detergents)
Psychochemicals
First full nuclear power plant, USA

1961: Lawrencium (103, Lr)--- GHIORSO
1968:Dubnium (105, Db)--- FLEROV
1960
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GEN
ORG/BIO
-

1970: Rutherfordium (104, Rf)--GHIORSO
1974: Seaborgium (106, Sg)--
GHIORSO or OGANESYAN

1970
-

1981: Bohrium (107, Bh)---MÜNZENBERG
1982: Meitnerium (109, Mt)---MÜNZENBERG
1984: Hassium (108, Hs)------MÜNZENBERG

1980
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GEN
ORG/BIO
-

1994: Element 110--- S. HOFMANN, et al.
1994: Element 111--- S. HOFMANN, et al.
1996: Element 112--- S. HOFMANN, et al.
1999: Element 114--- (Dubna)
1990
-

-
2000
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GEN
ORG/BIO
-

DISCOVERY OF ELEMENTS	DECADE	TECHNICAL / INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS
1801: Niobium (originally called columbium) --- HATCHETT 1802: Tantalum--- EKEBERG 1803: Cerium--- BERZELIUS 1803: Palladium--- WOLLASTON 1803: Rhodium--- WOLLASTON 1804: Osmium--- TENNANT 1804: Iridium--- TENNANT 1807: Sodium--- DAVY 1807: Potassium--- DAVY 1808: Magnesium---DAVY 1808: Calcium--- DAVY 1808: Strontium--- DAVY 1808: Barium--- DAVY 1808: Boron--- GAY-LUSSAC, THENARD, DAVY	1800 GEN ORG/BIO	1801: First beet-sugar factory (Silesia) Oxyhydrogen blowpipe Bone-black first used in sugar refining. Vacuum pans first used.
1811: Iodine--- COURTOIS 1817: Cadmium--- STROMEYER 1817: Lithium--- ARFVEDSON 1818: Selenium--- BERZELIUS GROTTHUSS' Photochemical Absorption Law. Further developments by DRAPER and BUNSEN.	1810	DAVY: miner's safety lamp. DAVY: Platinum catalyst. Pyrite first used in making H₂SO₄. Rosin for paper size.
BERZELIUS' "JAHRESBERICHT." (Annual Report) (1821-1848) 1824: Silicon--- BERZELIUS 1824: Zirconium--- BERZELIUS 1825: Aluminum--- OERSTED 1826: Bromine--- BALARD 1828: Beryllium--- WÖHLER 1829: Thorium--- BERZELIUS	1820 return to top GEN ORG/BIO	The Quick Vinegar Process. Portland cement. Babbitt metal. Kerosene illuminant. High-pressure boiler. Hot air used in blast furnace. {Other reference to blast furnace}. Galvanized iron. Chilean nitrate. Invention of dynamo. Oxalic acid from wood.--- GUY-LUSSAC LIEBIG: First systematic laboratory instruction in chemistry.
1830: Vanadium--- SEFSTRÖM 1839: Lanthanum--- MOSANDER	1830	Beginning of LIEBIG's "ANNALEN". LIEBIG's new methods for analysis of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Phosphorus matches. Induction coil. Beginnings of electro-metallurgy. DAGUERRE--- Photography. Manganese steel. Utilization of blast-furnace gases. Other reference to blast furnace. Vulcanization of rubber. Multiple-effect evaporator. Mercerizing process.
Photochemical work of DRAPER. 1843: Yttrium, Erbium, and Terbium--- MOSANDER 1844: Ruthenium--- CLAUS	1840 return to top GEN ORG/BIO	Pneumatic tire. Anesthetics. Wood pulp for paper. Guncotton. Safety match.
1852: BUNSEN and ROSCOE's photochemical work. BUNSEN and KIRCHHOFF's photochemical work led to their discoveries of Rubidium and Cesium and later, the discovery of	1850	Pyroxlin laquer. DEVILLE: Al by Na reduction of AlCl₃ BESSEMER Converter. 1856: PERKIN: mauve KNAB: retort coke oven. BUNSEN's "GASOMETRISCHE METHODEN." First oil well. Chrome tanning.
1861: Rubidium and 1860: Cesium--- BUNSEN and KIRCHHOFF 1861: Thallium--- CROOKES (thallium metal produced in 1861 by LAMY) 1863: Indium--- REICH and V. RICHTER Formula of ozone--- SORET Helium spectum in sun--- LOCKYER and JANSSEN	1860 return to top GEN ORG/BIO	Regenerative blast-furnace stoves. Storage cell. Dynamite. SOLVAY Soda Process. Beginning of metallography--- SORBY. SIEMENS' Open Hearth Steel Process. Chrome steel. Tungsten tool steel. Celluloid, the first plastic. 1869: MENDELEEV's Periodic Table.
1875: Gallium--- BOISBAUDRAN 1879: Ytterbium--- MARIGNAC 1879: Scandium--- NILSON 1879: Thulium and Holmium--- CLEVE	1870	Electric arc lighting. DEACON Process for chlorine. KNAB-CARVES coke oven (which preceded the Semet-Solvay oven. Ferromanganese American Chemical Society founded.
1880: Samarium--- BOISBAUDRAN 1880: Gadolinium--- MARIGNAC 1885: Praseodymium and Neodymium--- WELSBACH 1886: Dysprosium--- BOISBAUDRAN 1886: Germanium--- WINKLER 1886: Fluorine--- MOISSAN	1880 return to top GEN ORG/BIO	BRIN Process for oxygen. OTTO-HOFFMANN oven. Mineral floation process. HALL Process for aluminum. THE ELECTRIC FURNACE carborundum (SiC, for grindstones, etc.) Rotary converter. Electric welding.
1894: Argon--- RAYLEIGH 1895: Helium--- RAMSAY and CLEVE 1898: Neon, Xenon, and Krypton--- RAMSAY and TRAVERS 1898: Polonium and Radium--- M. and P. CURIE 1899: Actinium--- DEBIERNE	1890	FRASCH process for obtaining sulfur THE ELECTRIC FURNACE (continued) calcium carbide Cyanamide and NITROGEN FIXATION 1894: Foundations of the Arc Process (RAYLEIGH) Birkeland-Eyde Process (see 1903).
1900: Radon--- DORN 1901: Europium---DEMARCAY Liquification of hydrogen 1905: EINSTEIN: Photoelectrical theory. Special theory of relativity. MASS-ENERGY EQUIVALENCE ( E = mc²) 1907: Lutetium--- URBAIN and WELSBACH. Liquification of helium--- ONNES	1900 return to top GEN ORG/BIO	1900: OSTWALD Process for oxidation of NH₃. Contact Process for H₂SO₄ 1903: BIRKELAND-EYDE Process. Mechanical classifier. 1905: HABER Process practicable. (perfected after 1910) Aniline rubber accelerators. 1909: "Bakelite" phenol-formaldehyde resins early plastic Continuous vacuum filters.
EINSTEIN: Law of Photochemical Equivalence. Hydrides of boron and silicon--- STOCK 1917: Protactinium--- HAHN and MEITNER ASTON: Mass Spectrograph	1910	BURTON Process for petroleum "cracking." HABER Process perfected. Earliest POLYMERS, their chemistry and synthesis.
MILLIKAN--- Cosmic rays. COMPTON effect. 1923: Hafnium--- D. COSTER and HEVESY 1925: Rhenium--- NODDACK, et al. 1925: PAULI exclusion principle. 1926: SCHRÖDINGER: wave mechanics. 1927: HEISENBERG uncertainty principle.	1920 return to top GEN ORG/BIO	POLYMERS: Chemical Synthesis *SYNTHETIC FIBERS, PLASTICS* *& SYNTHETIC RUBBERS:* Rayon Polysulfides Casein Nitrocellulose lacquers Cellulose acetates Urea formaldehyde Duprene FISCHER-TROPSCH catalyst (Fe/Co) and process (CO + H₂ hydrocarbons) Vapor-phase cracking
1932: Neutron--- CHADWICK UREY--- Deuterium Heavy water N¹⁵ C¹³ 1939: Technetium--- PERRIER and SEGRÉ 1939: Francium--- PEREY	1930	*SYNTHETIC FIBERS, PLASTICS* *& SYNTHETIC RUBBERS:* Acrylics Ethyl cellulose Polyvinyl chloride Vinyl butyral Polystyrene Polyamides Melamines Polyvinylidene chloride Boron carbide Bromine from sea BERGIUS process (hydrogenate coal hydrocarbons)
1940: Astatine--- CORSON, et al. 1940: Neptunium--- McMILLAN and ABELSON 1940: Plutonium--- SEABORG, et al. 1944: Americium--- SEABORG, et al. 1944: Curium--- SEABORG, et al. 1945: Promethium--- MARINSKY and GLENDENIN Berkelium--- SEABORG Californium--- SEABORG	1940 return to top GEN ORG/BIO	*SYNTHETIC FIBERS, PLASTICS* *& SYNTHETIC RUBBERS:* Polyethylene Butadiene copolymers Polyesters Silicones Tetrafluoroethylene Organosols & plastisols Epoxides Chlorotrifluoroethylene BARUCH Report (plan for world government)
LIBBY--- C¹⁴ Dating Tritium dating 1954: Einsteinium--- SEABORG et al. 1954: Fermium--- SEABORG et al. 1955: Mendelevium--- SEABORG, et al. 1957: Nobelium--- FIELDS, et al. Tritium dating.	1950	*SYNTHETIC FIBERS, PLASTICS* *& SYNTHETIC RUBBERS:* Urethanes Cis-polyisoprene Polypropylene First nuclear fission electricity. Isoniazid Syndets (synthetic detergents) Psychochemicals First full nuclear power plant, USA
1961: Lawrencium (103, Lr)--- GHIORSO 1968:Dubnium (105, Db)--- FLEROV	1960 return to top GEN ORG/BIO	-
1970: Rutherfordium (104, Rf)--GHIORSO 1974: Seaborgium (106, Sg)-- GHIORSO or OGANESYAN	1970	-
1981: Bohrium (107, Bh)---MÜNZENBERG 1982: Meitnerium (109, Mt)---MÜNZENBERG 1984: Hassium (108, Hs)------MÜNZENBERG	1980 return to top GEN ORG/BIO	-
1994: Element 110--- S. HOFMANN, et al. 1994: Element 111--- S. HOFMANN, et al. 1996: Element 112--- S. HOFMANN, et al. 1999: Element 114--- (Dubna)	1990	-
-	2000 return to top GEN ORG/BIO	-