Arrhenius, Svante August (1859–1927)

Swedish scientist, the founder of physical chemistry. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1903 for his study of electrolysis. In 1905 he predicted global warming as a result of carbon dioxide emission from burning fossil fuels.

Arrhenius explained that in an electrolyte the dissolved substance is dissociated into electrically charged ions. The electrolyte conducts electricity because the ions migrate through the solution.

Arrhenius was born near Uppsala, and studied at Uppsala and Stockholm, specializing in solutions and electrolytes. He was soon offered academic posts throughout Europe but chose to stay in Stockholm as professor of physics at the university from 1891. In 1905 he was appointed director of the Nobel Institute for Physical Chemistry and held that post until shortly before his death.

After 1905 Arrhenius applied the laws of theoretical chemistry to physiological problems (particularly immunology); he also published papers on cosmic physics concerning the aurora borealis and the transport of living matter (‘spores’) through space from one planet to another.