Svante Arrhenius

Physical chemistry pioneer who explained ions in solution and first calculated CO₂-driven warming.

Core Principles & Analysis

• His theory of ionic dissociation, nearly failed as a doctoral thesis, won the 1903 Nobel Prize.
• The Arrhenius equation quantifies how reaction rates rise with temperature.
• In 1896 he computed that doubling atmospheric CO₂ would warm the Earth by several degrees.

Specifications & Metrics

• ERA: 1859 – 1927