Google Doodle Celebrates German Chemist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge Who Identified Caffeine

Today's Google Doodle honours German analytical chemist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge on his 225th birthday. 

From an early age Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge expressed his interest in chemistry and began experimenting as a teenager. One of his early experiments include the effect of belladonna plant's extract on dilating of pupils. Runge had accidentally splashed a drop of belladonna extract in his eye and took note of its effect on his pupil.

Ten years later Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge was asked to re-conduct and reproduce the effects of belladonna, while he was studying under chemist Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner at University of Jena

Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge's experiment was noticed by his professor Dobereiner's friend, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who encouraged him to analyse coffee. Few months later, Runge went onto identify caffeine.

Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge completed his doctorate from the University of Berlin and taught at the University of Breslau till 1831. His noteworthy inventions include first coal tar dye along with a process on how to dye clothes. He is also one of the first scientists to isolate quinine (a drug used to treat malaria).

Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge has also contributed as an originator of paper chromatography (an early technique for separating chemical substances) and devising a method for extracting sugar from beet juice.

His contributions to the world also include: being one of the first scientists to isolate quinine (a drug used to treat malaria), considered an originator of paper chromatography (an early technique for separating chemical substances), and even devising a method for extracting sugar from beet juice.

Despite his contributions to chemistry, Runge died in poverty in 1867 at the age.