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Alfred Nobel: A Swedish Inventor Who Invented An Element of Destruction & A Noble Legacy of Peace
How did a Swedish chemist turn his love of chemistry into the largest prize in history? — Learn about the inventor of dynamite, and what he left to humanity in his will.
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist and engineer who is best known for his invention of dynamite.
He also established the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of physics, chemistry, literature, and peace.
Early Life
Alfred Nobel was born on October 21, 1833, in Stockholm, Sweden. His father, Immanuel Nobel, was an inventor and manufacturer who had created a successful maritime explosives business.
The simple Immanuel Nobel naval mines consisted of submerged wooden casks that were loaded with gunpowder.
Nobel was a capable chemist at the age of 16 and spoke English, French, German, Russian, and Swedish with ease.
His main areas of interest were physics and chemistry. He also enjoyed English poetry and literature.
To extend his horizons, his father sent him abroad for more chemical engineering studies. Traveling for two years, Alfred Nobel visited Sweden, Germany, France, and the US.
He worked with Swedish-American engineer John Ericsson, who built the armored warship Monitor and invented the ship’s screw propeller, while in the United States.
There he met the young Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero, who had created the highly explosive liquid nitroglycerine three years prior.
The usage of nitroglycerine in construction operations captured Alfred Nobel’s interest. He also understood that safety concerns needed to be resolved and that a technique for controlled nitroglycerine detonation needed to be developed.
Nobel’s Early Career
Alfred’s father’s business suffered once the Crimean War was over, therefore he made the decision to return to Sweden.
Robert and Ludvig, Alfred’s older brothers, remained in Russia in an effort to preserve what was left of the family business.
They were prosperous and continued to grow the oil sector in southern Russia.
Alfred focused on creating nitroglycerine as an explosive after the Nobel family returned to Sweden in 1863.
Sadly, these efforts led to mishaps that resulted in the deaths of several people, including Emil, Alfred’s younger brother.
Within the boundaries of Stockholm city, the authorities decided to outlaw these experiments.
Alfred Invents “Dynamite”
Through his research, Alfred discovered that combining nitroglycerine with the fine sand kieselguhr would transform the liquid into a paste that could be formed into rods.
The drilling holes could then be filled with these rods. The invention was created in 1866. The following year, Alfred obtained a patent or other kind of ownership over this material.
“Dynamite,” he called it. He also created a blasting cap or detonator that could be activated by lighting a fuse.
These innovations were created at a period when the pneumatic drill and diamond drilling crown were becoming widely used.
Together, these innovations helped down the cost of numerous construction tasks like tunneling, rock-blasting, and erecting bridges, among others.
Other Inventions
Later, Nobel created collodion-like nitroglycerin by combining it with other nitrocellulose chemicals.
But he ultimately decided on a more effective concoction using a different nitrate explosive.
He was given a clear, jelly-like substance with greater explosive potential.
In 1876, Gelignite, also known as blasting gelatine, was patented.
It was followed by a number of variations that added potassium nitrate and other ingredients.
The next substance is ballistite, a smokeless powder made primarily of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine in a 40 to 60 percent ratio.
It served as the model for many contemporary smokeless powder explosives that are still utilized as rocket propellants.
The next substance is Ballistite, a smokeless powder made primarily of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine in a 40 to 60 percent ratio.
It served as the model for many contemporary smokeless powder explosives that are still utilized as rocket propellants.
How did Alfred Nobel Start the Nobel Prize?
Nobel spoke a variety of languages well and enjoyed poetry and theatre.
He reportedly had opinions that were regarded as radical at the time and showed a keen interest in matters of peace.
Later in 1896 after he passed away. Alfred Nobel never married nor had any children, and he left his wealth in a trust that was used to fund the Nobel Prizes, awarded annually since 1901.
Most of his assets were left to the formation of five prizes, which later evolved into the Nobel Prizes, according to his will.
On December 10, 1901, the first Nobel Prize was presented.
Awarded independently in six distinct categories, the Nobel Prize is a renowned honor given “to individuals who, during the preceding year, have imparted the greatest value to humankind.”
The prize was initially given out in the categories of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace.
“To the person who has done the most or best to develop fellowship among nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the formation and support of peace congresses,” was how the Nobel Peace Prize was defined.
Later in 1968, a sixth award in the category of economic sciences was added.
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel is the formal name of the award, and that is not a Nobel Prize.
The Key Takeaway
Alfred’s enormous wealth and success were based on the development of explosives and weaponry, including the patenting of nitroglycerin, but he was committed to promoting peace and considered himself a pacifist.
He had incredible grit and constantly overcame challenges. He was brilliant because he could mix the analytical intellect of a scientist or inventor with the innovative drive of an industrialist.
Nobel had extreme views and was adamant about social and peace causes. He authored plays and poetry since he was a huge literary buff.
His lifetime interests were furthered and realized through the Nobel Prizes.
He was a leader because of his creativity; else, he would have been an ordinary industrialist.
Keep discovering here —Alfred Nobel: A Man of Noble Thought
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