Wilhelm Schlenk

Infobox_Scientist
name = Wilhelm Johann Schlenk


image_width =
caption = Wilhelm Johann Schlenk
birth_date = birth date|1879|3|22|df=y
birth_place = Munich, Germany
residence =
nationality =
death_date = death date and age|1943|4|29|1879|3|22|df=y
death_place = Tübingen, Germany
field =
work_institution = University of Munich,
University of Jena,
University of Vienna,
University of Berlin,
University of Tübingen
alma_mater = University of Munich
doctoral_advisor = Oskar Piloty
doctoral_students = Herman Mark
Fritz Feigl
known_for = Schlenk flask
Schlenk line
prizes =
religion =
footnotes =

Wilhelm Johann Schlenk (22 March 1879 – 29 April 1943) was a German chemist. He was born in Munich and also studied chemistry there.

Schlenk was an organic chemist who discovered organolithium compounds around 1917. He also investigated free radicals and carbanions and discovered (together with his son) that organomagnesium halides are capable of participating in a complex chemical equilibrium, now known as a Schlenk equilibrium.

Today Schlenk is remembered mostly for developing techniques to handle air-sensitive compounds, and for his invention of the Schlenk flask. The latter is a reaction vessel with a glass or Teflon tap for the addition and removal of gases, such as nitrogen or argon. He is also known for the Schlenk line, a double manifold incorporating a vacuum system and a gas line joined by double oblique taps that allow the user to switch between vacuum and gas for the manipulation of air-sensitive compounds.

For further reading

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External links

* [http://www.sammlungen.hu-berlin.de/dokumente/12568/ Picture of Schlenk]

* [http://www.gdch.de/gdch/eps/preise/as_preis.htm The Arfvedson-Schlenk Award] (in German)