1859-1927

Swedish physical chemist who developed the theory of electrolytic dissociation of molecules in solution. His theory explained the phenomena observed when certain substances dissolve; he proposed that they break up into electrically charged positive and negative ions. He applied this theory to acids and bases, arguing that acids dissociate to produce H⁺ ions and bases OH^– ions. The Arrhenius equation resulted from his generalization of the effect of temperature on the rate of chemical reactions. He received the 1903 Nobel Prize in chemistry.