Döbereiner, Johann Wolfgang, 1780-1849, German chemist. From 1810 he was professor of the Univ. of Jena. He is known especially for his discovery of similar triads of elements, a step in the development of the periodic law. He discovered furfural, worked on the use of platinum as a catalyst, and invented a lighter (known as Döbereiner's lamp) that is ignited by the action of hydrogen on a platinum sponge.

Döbereiner's Lamp is a lighter invented in 1823 by the German chemist Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner, the lighter is based on the Fürstenberger lighter and was in production until ca. 1880.

The lighter is exhibited in the Deutsches Museum and in the old pharmacy in the Heidelberg Castle.

See also

• Timeline of hydrogen technologies

External References

• American Scientist Article
• George B. Kauffman (1999). "Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner's Feuerzeug". Platinum Metals Review 43 (3): 122–128.