3️⃣Which Early Chemistry Pioneer Lived in this House in Gießen, Germany?

Street, City, Country

Liebigstraße 12, Gießen, Germany

Who was there?

Justus Liebig (1803–1873)

When did he live there?

1824–1852

What is it today?

Liebig Museum: The building has served as a museum since 1920 and received the EuChemS Historical Landmarks Award in recognition of Liebig’s pioneering research and his role in teaching in the development of chemistry as a modern science. It is considered the birthplace of modern chemistry.

The museum is one of the oldest surviving laboratory buildings, allowing visitors to experience the working conditions of the time. It houses a rich collection of historical chemical apparatus, scientific instruments, documents such as chemistry books, letters, pictures, personal memorabilia, and well-preserved technical equipment, including furnaces, fume hoods, and drains.

Original building?

Yes

Brief history of the person and the house

The building was the place of Liebig’s first experimental lectures, which through him became an integral part of chemistry education. Liebig used his laboratory in Gießen as a workshop and a teaching facility, setting a model for experimental research across the natural sciences.

The first floor consisted of a larger room, the “Old Laboratory,” and four smaller rooms: a weighing room, a magazine, a dishwashing room, and a writing room. Liebig lived in a private apartment on the upper floor, where he later resided with his wife and five children. As was customary in Gießen at the time, Liebig initially used a private room on the upper floor part-time as a lecture hall for his first twelve students. Later, a searate lecture room was added to the building.

What is Justus Liebig known for?

Justus Liebig is considered one of the founders of organic chemistry and sometimes described as the “father of the fertilizer industry”. He developed important analytical methods, devised a manufacturing process for beef extracts, and founded the journal Justus Liebig’s Annalen der Chemie. In addition, he modernized chemistry education with systematic teaching methods, combining lectures and laboratory work, and is regarded as one of the great chemistry teachers [2]. Many notable chemists were among his many students [3].