Making Reactions Go Faster Since the 1700s | Great Minds: Elizabeth Fulhame

The video explores the concept of catalysis, a crucial chemical process in modern life, and highlights the pioneering work of Elizabeth Fulhame in the late 18th century. Despite the male-dominated field, Fulhame's meticulous experiments laid the groundwork for understanding catalysis, reduction, and oxidation. Her work, published in 1794, predated Jons Jacob Berzelius's naming of the process by 40 years. The video also discusses the role of catalysts in various applications, including industrial processes and biological systems, and acknowledges Fulhame's lasting impact on chemistry, as evidenced by the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

What were the conditions under which Elizabeth Fulhame found metals could be reduced?

How did Elizabeth Fulhame's work challenge the existing beliefs about metal reduction?

What legacy did Elizabeth Fulhame leave in the field of catalysis?