Explore every episode of the podcast 32 Short Stories of Chemists and Their Chemicals

Despite Kekulé’s success with the structure of benzene, general recognition that molecules possess a fixed three-dimensional structure did not become widely adopted until the work of van ’t Hoff and Le Bel.

They independently proposed the tetrahedral carbon atom. This model was used to successfully explain the results of Pasteur’s famous experiments separating the enantiomers of tartaric acid. Hermann Kolbe’s nasty ad hominem editorial lambasting van ’t Hoff is an example of the difficulty some scientists have in dealing with change.

The myth surrounding August Kekulé’s “dream” that led to his proposed structure for benzene is discussed.

This myth is the subject of much recent analysis, and we argue that it has been largely misinterpreted due to language translation confusion and judgment of the past through modern eyes. We conclude by recommending that chemists not overlook Kekulé’s last comment, which provides exceptional guidance to young scholars.

Science, as a human construct, relies on myths to propagate values to students.

A few famous science myths are presented — Newton’s apple, Galileo saying “And yet it moves”, and Franklin’s kite — before delving into the myth of Wöhler’s synthesis of urea. This myth is used to define the origin story for organic chemistry, taking down vitalism. Science myths are another theme discussed in many subsequent episodes.

Joseph Priestley is perhaps the first great experimental chemist. His careful experiments uncovered the essential gases oxygen and carbon dioxide.

These are intimately involved in the processes of life: oxygen being the feedstock for animals (including humans), and carbon dioxide being the feedstock of plants. After visiting Priestley’s lab, Benjamin Franklin recognized the interplay of systems, foreshadowing the development of ecology.

The episode concludes with the universal notion that an initial idea can have implications and impacts far beyond what the scientist understands at the time — a theme that appears repeatedly throughout the podcast.

An introduction to the podcast series.