Christian Friedrich Schönbein, a German chemist, is considered the father of ozone.
Discovery and Naming of Ozone
In 1840, Schönbein observed a distinctive "odorful gas" while experimenting with electrolysis of water, an "Odorful Gas" on passing electrical discharge through water (Ozen = Odor). He recognized this gas as a new substance and named it "ozone," derived from the Greek word "ozein," meaning "to smell."
Schönbein's Contributions to Ozone Research
Schönbein's work wasn't limited to merely discovering ozone. He dedicated significant effort to studying its properties and effects. He investigated:
- Ozone Formation: He researched different methods of generating ozone.
- Ozone's Chemical Properties: He studied ozone's reactivity and its interactions with various substances.
- Ozone's Potential Applications: Although the full scope of ozone's applications wasn't realized until later, Schönbein's initial observations laid the groundwork.
Ozone Therapy
Interestingly, the reference also mentions that Schönbein is considered the father of Ozone Therapy.
