What happened to Liebig and organic chemistry?

Liebig (1803～1873) Liebig, a German chemist, was born in Darmstadt.

When he was young, he worked as an apprentice in a drugstore. He graduated from the University of Erlangen in 1822 and received a doctorate in philosophy with a thesis on the composition of mercury.

In terms of classical chemistry, Liebig contributed to both inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry. He discovered fulminic acid, an isomer of isocyanate, improved the quantitative analysis method of carbon and hydrogen elements in organic matter, and prepared Chloroform, trichloroacetaldehyde, creatine, etc., proposed the "organic root theory" and "homogeneity theory"; together with Weller, he discovered "phenylacetyl" and proposed the concept of "compound group"; He created chemical instruments such as the "Liebig sphere" and was the first to establish a chemical laboratory in a university.

In biochemistry and agricultural chemistry, Liebig studied the chemical principles of fermentation and putrefaction, applied chemistry to agricultural production, and proposed the mineral nutrition theory of plants. From the analysis of plant ash, it was found that salts containing potassium and phosphorus have a great influence on the development of agriculture.

Professor "Farming"

One day, Liebig came to the crop fields on the outskirts of the city and bent down to carefully inspect the crops and soil. A farmer working in the field looked at this scholar-looking city man strangely and asked: "Sir, do you also know how to grow crops?"

"Well, I don't know much, and I just want to learn. ." Liebig replied. He then asked: "Do you think the harvest will be good this year?"

This casual question touched the farmer's heart, and he sighed worriedly and said: "Year after year The land is becoming increasingly barren, so how can we expect a good harvest? This land is about to be abandoned."

"If we can add some nutrients to the land, the crops will be abundant. "?" Liebig said to himself, and seemed to be talking to the farmers.

"Sir, you don't understand. Our Han ancestors have been farming like this for generations. What you say will make a joke." The farmer said with some humor.

Liebig doesn't care if it makes a joke.

"What exactly is lacking in cultivated land? What do I need to understand for the growth of crops?" Liebig asked himself.

In order to find the answer, Liebig began a large number of experiments. In the experiment, he discovered that three elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are indispensable substances for plant growth.

In 1840, the world’s first batch of chemical fertilizers was finally produced. However, this kind of chemical fertilizer seeps into the deep layers of the soil after soaking in rainwater, but the plants cannot absorb nutrients and the crop yields do not increase significantly.

So, they started a new exploration. This time, Liebig synthesized potassium and phosphate crystals into a chemical fertilizer that was insoluble in water.

Finally, on a piece of barren land, Liebig and his assistants mixed these white crystals with clay and rock salt, applied them to the soil, and then planted crops. After a while, the farmers were surprised to find that the abandoned "barren land" miraculously grew green crops, which grew stronger and stronger. In a blink of an eye, the harvest season has come again. The "barren land" produced a bumper harvest that was better than the crops farmers planted in fertile fields.

Since then, chemical fertilizers have become the treasure of farmers.