Carl Schorlemmer: The Red Chemist
The pioneering scientist who revolutionized organic chemistry while maintaining close ties with Marx and Engels
A Scientific Legacy Remembered
In the annals of science, few figures present as intriguing a combination as Carl Schorlemmer—both a pioneering chemist who helped lay the foundations of modern organic chemistry, and a committed communist who maintained close friendships with Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. As we mark the centenary of his passing, Schorlemmer's dual legacy in science and social thought continues to fascinate historians and scientists alike.
Scientific Pioneer
Schorlemmer conducted groundbreaking research on hydrocarbons that resolved fundamental questions about molecular structure while simultaneously engaging with the revolutionary politics of his era 7 .
Historical Scholar
Through his research, teaching, and historical studies, Schorlemmer left an indelible mark on the scientific landscape of the 19th century—a legacy that continues to resonate in both chemistry and the history of science.
"His work transformed our understanding of organic compounds and their behavior, earning him recognition as one of the joint founders of today's scientific organic chemistry" 7 .
Early Life and Academic Journey
Carl Schorlemmer was born on September 30, 1834, in Darmstadt, Germany, into a working-class family—the eldest son of Johannes Schorlemmer, a master carpenter 5 . His educational journey reflected both personal determination and the evolving nature of scientific education in 19th-century Europe.
Key Milestones in Carl Schorlemmer's Early Career
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1834 | Born in Darmstadt, Germany | Eldest son of a master carpenter |
| 1853 | Began apprenticeship as an apothecary | Initial exposure to practical chemistry |
| 1856 | Became pharmaceutical assistant in Heidelberg | Opportunity to attend Bunsen's lectures |
| 1859 | Entered University of Giessen | Formal chemistry education under Will and Kopp |
| 1859 | Moved to England as private assistant to Roscoe | Beginning of Manchester career |
| 1861 | Official laboratory assistant at Owens College | Start of original research on hydrocarbons |
Despite these professional achievements, Schorlemmer remained, in the words of Friedrich Engels, "the soul of modesty, since his modesty was based upon a correct assessment of his own worth" 7 .
Scientific Contributions and Discoveries
Schorlemmer's most significant scientific contributions centered on the study of hydrocarbons, particularly the paraffin series. When he began his investigations in the 1860s, organic chemistry was transitioning from a collection of isolated facts into a coherent scientific discipline with underlying principles 7 .
Paraffin Research
Demonstrated that paraffins formed a single series, not a double series as previously believed 5 .
Chemical Structure
Provided evidence supporting carbon tetravalence theory, a cornerstone of modern organic chemistry 5 .
Schorlemmer's Key Research Areas and Reagents
| Research Area | Key Substances/Reagents | Function/Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Paraffin Hydrocarbons | Normal pentane, normal heptane | Fundamental hydrocarbons establishing single series concept |
| Chemical Structure | Diisopropyl | Demonstrated isomer relationships |
| Alcohol Conversion | Secondary alcohols | Developed method to transform to primary alcohols |
| Chlorination Studies | Chlorine, paraffins | Investigated substitution reactions in saturated hydrocarbons |
| Dye Chemistry | Aurin, rosaniline, suberone, safranin | Contributed to understanding of complex organic compounds |
"He was probably the only important scientist of his time who did not disdain learning from Hegel," appreciating the importance of understanding natural phenomena as variable and in a state of flux rather than as fixed, invariable magnitudes 7 .
The Paraffin Experiment: A Closer Look
Schorlemmer's groundbreaking work on the paraffin hydrocarbons represents one of his most significant contributions to organic chemistry. To understand the importance of his findings, it is valuable to examine one of his key experiments in detail—the investigation that demonstrated the identity of substances previously thought to be different.
Methodology and Procedure
Schorlemmer's approach was characterized by systematic comparison and rigorous purification of substances derived from different sources. His experimental procedure typically involved:
- Sample Collection and Preparation: Gathering paraffin samples from multiple sources including light oils from cannel coal-tar, natural petroleums, and synthetically produced hydrocarbons 5 .
- Purification Process: Using fractional distillation and crystallization techniques to isolate individual hydrocarbon components.
- Comparative Analysis: Subjecting purified substances to identical chemical tests and physical measurements.
- Structural Investigation: Studying how hydrocarbons reacted with chlorine and could be transformed into other compounds.
Results from Schorlemmer's Paraffin Research
| Hydrocarbon | Source | Previously Believed Isomers | Schorlemmer's Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethane | Multiple sources | "Ethyl hydride" vs. "ethane" | Identical compound |
| Normal pentane | Petroleum, synthetic | Not previously isolated pure | First pure preparation, no isomers |
| Normal heptane | Various | Multiple reported forms | Single substance, no isomers |
| Diisopropyl | Synthetic | New compound | Discovered and characterized |
The importance of these findings extended far beyond the specific compounds involved. They provided crucial experimental support for the emerging theory of carbon tetravalence and molecular structure developed by Kekulé, Couper, and others 5 .
The Historian of Chemistry
In addition to his experimental work, Schorlemmer made substantial contributions to the history of chemistry—an interest he developed under the influence of his teacher Hermann Kopp at Giessen 1 5 . From 1883 onward, historical studies absorbed a great part of his time and energy 1 .
His book The Rise and Development of Organic Chemistry, published in 1874 and updated in a second edition in 1889, offered an engaging sketch of the field's evolution and was translated into multiple languages, including French 5 .
Schorlemmer's historical work was characterized by meticulous scholarship and a deep understanding of both the theoretical and practical dimensions of chemistry. His approach to history reflected the same methodological rigor he applied to his laboratory work.
Perhaps his most significant unpublished historical contribution was a massive manuscript on the history of chemistry from antiquity to the 17th century—approximately 1,100 pages—which remained unfinished at his death and is now housed in the John Rylands Library 3 5 .
This manuscript contained an important confirmation of historian H. Kopp's suggestion that works attributed to the 15th-century alchemist "Basil Valentine" were actually written in the 17th century by Johann Thölde 5 . Schorlemmer provided documentary evidence that Thölde had published his Halographia first in 1612 under his own name and then in 1644 under the pseudonym Basil Valentine—a revelation that corrected a long-standing misconception in the history of alchemy 5 .
The "Red Chemist": Schorlemmer's Political Connections
One of the most fascinating aspects of Schorlemmer's life was his deep involvement with the founding figures of communism. He developed close personal friendships with both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, relationships that went far beyond casual acquaintance 3 7 .
Relationship with Marx and Engels
According to Engels' obituary of Schorlemmer, the chemist was "a Communist before Lassalle appeared in Germany" and remained "until his death, an active and regular dues-paying member of the Socialist Party of Germany" 7 .
Schorlemmer first met Marx and Engels in the early 1860s, and they quickly became "intimately acquainted" 7 . Engels noted that while Schorlemmer was already "a complete Communist" when they met, their discussions helped provide him with "the economic grounds for a conviction he had gained long ago" 7 .
Political Consequences
During the era of Bismarck's Anti-Socialist Law, German police targeted him as a suspected smuggler of the socialist newspaper Sozialdemokrat 7 . Authorities raided the homes of his mother and brother in Darmstadt, and when they searched his own residence in Höchst, they discovered his English passport 7 .
Schorlemmer had become a naturalized British subject in 1879, which provided him some protection from political persecution 1 7 . Engels wryly noted that this incident created "a big scandal in Darmstadt, which was worth at least 500 votes to us at the next election" 7 .
Recent scholarship based on Marx's notebooks, now being published in the Marx-Engels-Gesamtausgabe, reveals that Marx himself was "an equally keen student" of natural sciences alongside Engels 6 . This new evidence suggests that Schorlemmer likely played a significant role as "a working scientist whose important contributions to the development of scientific socialism have been unjustly ignored" 6 .
Legacy and Conclusion
Carl Schorlemmer died after a lingering illness on June 27, 1892, at his house in Manchester 1 . The cause of death was recorded as cancer of the lung 7 . He passed away unmarried, having devoted his life to science and his political convictions.
Scientific Legacy
His research on paraffins established fundamental principles of organic molecular structure that remain valid today.
Educational Legacy
As the first professor of organic chemistry in England, he played a pioneering role in establishing the discipline.
The scientific community moved quickly to honor his memory. In 1895, the Schorlemmer Memorial Laboratory was opened at Owens College, funded by nearly £5,000 in public subscriptions 1 5 . This laboratory, dedicated to research in organic chemistry, stood as a tangible tribute to his contributions to the field.
Enduring Impact
A century after his passing, Carl Schorlemmer remains a compelling example of how scientific rigor, historical awareness, and political engagement can intersect in a single remarkable life. His story reminds us that the pursuit of natural knowledge never occurs in a social vacuum, but is shaped by—and in turn shapes—the human world in which it is embedded. As we continue to face challenges that demand both scientific insight and social awareness, Schorlemmer's integrated vision of knowledge and action remains as relevant as ever.