Viktor Meyer

Article summary

Viktor Meyer (8 September 1848 8 August 1897) was a German chemist and significant contributor to both organic and inorganic chemistry. He is best known for inventing an apparatus for determining vapour densities, the Viktor Meyer apparatus, and for discovering thiophene, a heterocyclic compound. He is sometimes referred to as Victor Meyer, a name used in some of his publications. Meyer experienced several minor and major nervous breakdowns during the last years of his life. He always failed to recover completely, yet continued working. He took pills to fall asleep, but these had a damaging effect on his nervous system. In 1897, during one of his depressions, Meyer decided to take his own life. He committed suicide by taking cyanide.

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1848 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of death: 1897-08-08 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of death: 1897-08-08 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1848". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of death is "1897-08-08". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of death is "1897-08-08". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
6. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372004675