BUNSEN, ROBERT WILIIEL3I, A distinguished German chemist, b. at G6ttingen, where Iris father was a professor, on March 31, 1811. Ile entered the university of his native town in 1828, where he devoted himself to the study of the natural sciences, especially to zoologyand chemistry. H ienna. He afterwards prosecuted his favorite studies at Paris, Ber lin, and \' enna. After having held the post of professor at Cassel, Marburg., and Bres lau, successively, B. was, in 1b52, appointed to the chair of chemistry at Heidelberg, where he has since remained. He has published numerous papers on physics and geol ogy, as well as on chemistry. The charcoal pile and the burner which bear his name are in extensive use. That the hydrate of oxide of iron is an antidote to arsenic, is an impor tant fact which was made known by him, along with his friend Berthold, in 1837. B.
was the first to produce magnesium in large quantities; and, in 1860, he invented the magnesium light, which has proved so important to photography. But the greatest dis covery with which his name is associated, is that of the spectrum analysis—made in con junction with his friend Kirchoff—which has been Bid means of working so many won ders in chemistry, and revealing so much to astronomers. Its first result was the discov ery of two new metals. B. is not only a prolific discoverer in chemistry, but he has proved himself also one of its most successful teachers. His manner of demonstration is very happy. We have from his pen: Descriptio Horometrorum (Gottingen, 1830); Eieenoxydllydrat (2d ed., 1837); Gasometriehe ffethoden (1857; English by Roscoe); and other papers. The government of Baden made him a privy-councilor in 1863.