Friedrich Sertürner

German chemist who discovered morphine

Friedrich Sertürner - German chemist who discovered morphine
Born

June 19th, 1783
241 years ago

Died

1841
184 years ago — 58 years old

Category

Scientists & Innovators

Country

Germany

Links & References

A German chemist and pharmacist, significant contributions included the isolation of morphine from opium in 1804. This compound became the first natural opiate and laid the groundwork for modern pain management. Sertürner's work was crucial in advancing medicinal chemistry and the pharmaceutical industry. His findings not only contributed to scientific understanding of alkaloids but also had profound implications for medicine and pharmacology.

Isolated morphine from opium in 1804

First to identify a natural opiate

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