Wilhelm Ostwald

Wilhelm Friedrich Ostwald (1853–1932) was a Baltic German chemist, inventor, and university teacher whose primary field of work was physical chemistry. Born in Riga, he received his education at the Riga State Gymnasium No.1 and the Imperial University of Dorpat, where he earned a doctorate under the supervision of Carl Schmidt and Arthur von Oettingen. He held positions at the Imperial University of Dorpat, Riga Technical University, Leipzig University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ostwald was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and is recognized in the Nobel Chemistry collection. His notable works include *Outlines of general chemistry*, *Monism as the goal of civilization*, and *Elemente und Verbindungen*. He spoke German, Esperanto, and Ido, and was affiliated with the American Academy Arts Sciences collection. Ostwald died in Großbothen, Grimma, and was buried in the Great Cemetery. His son was Wolfgang Ostwald.