Georges-Simon Serullas (2 November 1774 in Poncin – 25 May 1832 in Paris) was a French pharmacist. He was a professor of pharmacy notable for being the first to publish a work on Iodoform, an early antiseptic and disinfectant.

Biography

He was a professor and head pharmacist at the hospital of Val-de-Grâce; professor of chemistry at the Jardin des Plantes (the chief botanical garden in France), and member of the French Academy of Sciences (elected December 28, 1829 - Chemistry section).

He was one of the first researchers to draw attention to the haloform reaction. In 1822, Serullas added potassium metal to a solution of iodine in ethanol and water to form potassium formate and iodoform, called in the language of that time hydroiodide of carbon,[1] and used as an antiseptic.

He is buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery (10th division).[2]

Tomb of Georges Simon Serullas at Père-Lachaise Cemetery

Publications

References

  1. ^ Georges-Simon Surellas, Notes sur l'Hydriodate de potasse et l'Acide hydriodique. – Hydriodure de carbone; moyen d'obtenir, à l'instant, ce composé triple [Notes on the hydroiodide of potassium and on hydroiodic acid – hydroiodide of carbon; means of obtaining instantly this compound of three elements] (Metz, France: Antoine, 1822). On pages 17–20, Surellas produced iodoform by passing a mixture of iodine vapor and steam over red-hot coals. However, later, on pages 28–29, he produced iodoform by adding potassium metal to a solution of iodine in ethanol (which also contained some water).
  2. ^ Bauer, Paul (2006). Two centuries of history in Père Lachaise, Memory and Documents. p. 719. ISBN 978-2914611480.
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