About William Christopher Zeise
William Christopher Zeise was a Danish organic chemist. He is best known for synthesising one of the first organometallic compounds, named Zeise's salt in his honour. He also performed pioneering studies in organosulfur chemistry, discovering the xanthates in 1823. Zeise had at first intended to study medicine, but while attending lectures it became clear that his interests had a broader scientific base; and chemistry remained his favourite subject. In this, the so-called Royal Science Laboratory, Zeise received ten students in the first year to whom he lectured, both in the laboratory and partly in the physical workshop. Zeise became a university student in 1809.
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