Happy Birthday Alexander Crum Brown!
On March 26, 1838 . . . . .
Alexander Crum Brown was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Considered by his peers as somewhat of a Renaissance Man, Dr. Brown was well educated in many disciplines. However, his research and career revolved around chemistry and molecular structures.
In 1864 Dr. Brown published a set of diagrams that displayed a system of representing chemical compounds. This system of drawings conveyed pictures of molecules in which symbols for atoms were enclosed circles. Dashed lines were put forth to connect atomic symbols together in a way that satisfied each atom’s valence. This system served as the basis for what we use today!