Friedrich Wöhler

Friedrich Wöhler was a German chemist best known for his groundbreaking work in the 19th century that bridged organic and inorganic chemistry. In 1828, he synthesized urea, an organic compound, from ammonium cyanate, an inorganic substance. This discovery challenged the idea that organic compounds could only be produced by living organisms. Wöhler's experiment demonstrated that chemical reactions could produce complex organic molecules from simpler inorganic ones, fundamentally changing the understanding of chemistry and paving the way for future studies in organic synthesis and biochemistry. His work highlighted the interconnections between different branches of chemistry.