Christian Gmelin


Christian Gottlob Gmelin was a German chemist. He was born in Tübingen, Germany, and was a grandson of Johann Konrad Gmelin and a great-grandson of Johann Georg Gmelin.

Scientific career

In 1818, Gmelin was one of the first to observe that lithium salts give a bright red color in a flame.
In 1826, Jean-Baptiste Guimet was credited to having devised a process for the artificial manufacture of ultramarine. 2 years later, in 1828, Gmelin published his own process to the artificial manufacture of ultramarine. Since Gmelin was the first to publish this process, he received the recognition for this discovery. In his publication, Gmelin stated that silica, alumina, and soda are the main constituents of ultramarine and the rich color comes from Sulfur.

Death

Gmelin later died in Tübingen, Germany, where he spent his entire life, on May 13, 1860.

Works