Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge: Google doodle on 225th birthday of analytical chemist who discovered Liesegang rings, caffeine

Runge was born near Hamburg in Germany on February 8, 1794. Due to his tremendous interest in chemistry, he started conducting chemical experiments at a young age. He made an unplanned identification of mydriatic (dilation of the pupil) and effects of belladonna (deadly nightshade with scientific name Atropa belladonna ­- Belladonna preparations are used in homeopathy as alternative medicine treatments for various conditions).

Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge was a jack of all trades. He is best known for identifying the caffeine in 1819. The renowned German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was the man behind his inspiration, who encouraged him to analyze coffee. Soon after, just at the age of 25, he identified caffeine.

On the other hand, the other works of Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge include the identification of first coal tar dye (aniline blue), paper chromatography, atropine, pyrrole, quinoline, thymol, and phenol.

Among all his several contributions, some of the most important are isolating quinine (a drug used to treat malaria), paper chromatography and the process of extracting sugar from beet juice. The globally renowned analytical chemist is still remembered today for being the first man to notice the phenomenon of Liesegang rings. He observed them in the course of experiments on the precipitation of reagents in blotting paper.

Google with all respect of gratitude to his several contributions celebrates his birthday with a doodle.