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Robert Bunsen

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Scientist

The Resume

    (March 30, 1811-August 16, 1899)
    Born in Gottingen, Germany
    Chemist
    Pioneer in spectroscopy
    With physicist Robert Kirchoff, discovered the elements cesium (1860) and rubidium (1861)
    Invented the Bunsen burner (1857)

Why he might be annoying:

    He lost the sight in his right eye in a lab explosion (1843).
    The Bunsen burner was actually built -- following Bunsen's specifications -- by University of Heidelberg instrument maker Peter Desga, who got screwed over in the naming.
    In isolating cesium, he had to distill forty tons of mineral water to produce 17 grams of the new element.
    He had a slovenly appearance, with one professor's wife saying she would like to kiss him, but she would have to wash him first.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He earned his PhD in chemistry at age 19.
    He declined to patent his inventions.
    He discovered that iron oxide hydrate was an antidote for arsenic poisoning.
    During a trip to Iceland, he determined what makes geysers erupt (1846).
    He and Kirchoff were jointly the first recipients of the Royal Society's prestigious Davy Medal (1877).

Credit: C. Fishel


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    In 2023, Out of 10 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 77 Votes: 45.45% Annoying