June 28th is Emil Erlenmeyer's birthday. Erlenmeyer is best known for the easily recognizable chemistry glassware that bears his name. The erlenmeyer flask is a conical based flask with a narrow cylindrical neck. It is commonly used in the same way as a beaker. The conical base allows stirring or swirling while the tapered neck prevents the contents from spilling. Unlike the beaker, an erlenmeyer flask may be sealed with a stopper. Erlenmeyer invented the flask in 1861 while he was a Professor at the Munich Polythechnic School researching the synthesis of organic compounds. Happy birthday Erlenmeyer! Find out what else occurred on this day in science history.
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