The inventor of Mayer's reagent and one of the founders of thermodynamics, Julius von Mayer was the first to enunciate what phrase, known as the first law of thermodynamics?
Mayer's reagent Mayer's reagent is an alkaloidal precipitating reagent used for the detection of alkaloids in natural products. Mayer’s reagent is freshly prepared by dissolving a mixture of mercuric chloride (1.36 g) and of potassium iodide (5.00 g) in water (100.0 ml). Most alkaloids are precipitated from neutral or slightly acidic solution by Mayer’s reagent (potassiomercuric iodide solution) to give a cream coloured precipitate. This test was invented by the German Chemist, Julius Robert Von Mayer (1814–1878).
Theodor Grotthuss Freiherr Christian Johann Dietrich Theodor von Grotthuss (January 20, 1785 – March 26, 1822) was a German chemist known for establishing the first theory of electrolysis in 1806 and formulating the first law of photochemistry in 1817. His theory of electrolysis is considered the first description of the so-called Grotthuss mechanism.