During his stay in Malmö, he bought from Copenhagen as many books as his salary
admitted. Those he read one or two times, then he remembered all what he wanted to
remember from them, and never asked for that book again.
Scheele’s first documented discovery was that of nitrous acid (HNO 2 ) in 1767. It
is first described in a letter to Retzius, dated December 1, 1767, the oldest preserved
letter from Scheele (Fig. 8.3). He asked Retzius whether he was familiar with a
volatile nitric acid. If not, Scheele offered to write a report to him. Retzius answered
that no such acid was known, and on December 11, Scheele sent a detailed report
on the new acid to Retzius. This report shows that Scheele already was a very
experienced chemist, although it lacks the structure and order of the papers he
eventually would publish.
Fig. 8.3 The last page from a letter from Scheele to Retzius written in December 1767. This is the
oldest dated document by Scheele. Carl Wilhelm Scheele’s Archive, Centre for History of Science,
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Photo Anders Lennartson
102
8 Scheele in Malmö
admitted. Those he read one or two times, then he remembered all what he wanted to
remember from them, and never asked for that book again.
Scheele’s first documented discovery was that of nitrous acid (HNO 2 ) in 1767. It
is first described in a letter to Retzius, dated December 1, 1767, the oldest preserved
letter from Scheele (Fig. 8.3). He asked Retzius whether he was familiar with a
volatile nitric acid. If not, Scheele offered to write a report to him. Retzius answered
that no such acid was known, and on December 11, Scheele sent a detailed report
on the new acid to Retzius. This report shows that Scheele already was a very
experienced chemist, although it lacks the structure and order of the papers he
eventually would publish.
Fig. 8.3 The last page from a letter from Scheele to Retzius written in December 1767. This is the
oldest dated document by Scheele. Carl Wilhelm Scheele’s Archive, Centre for History of Science,
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Photo Anders Lennartson
102
8 Scheele in Malmö