Laurent, Auguste (1807–1853)

French chemist who, in collaboration with Charles Gerhardt, made important contributions to the classification of elements. They introduced ‘type theory’, which grouped organic compounds according to common structural properties. Laurent was also one of the first to recognize a clear distinction between atoms and molecules. His collected papers were published posthumously in 1854, as Méthode de chimie.

Laurent was the son of a mining engineer from Langres, and himself qualified in mining engineering in Paris. He was appointed professor of chemistry at Bordeaux in 1838, and warden of the mint in Paris in 1848.