Döbereiner's lamp

noun

An early lighter in which zinc metal reacts with sulfuric acid to produce hydrogen gas. When a valve is opened, a jet of hydrogen is released and bursts into flame. The ignition is catalyzed by platinum metal.

Similar
philosopher's lamp
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Meanings

nounDöbereiner's lamp (plural Döbereiner's lamps)

plural Döbereiner's lamps

  1. An early lighter in which zinc metal reacts with sulfuric acid to produce hydrogen gas. When a valve is opened, a jet of hydrogen is released and bursts into flame. The ignition is catalyzed by platinum metal.

    Synonyms: philosopher's lamp

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAn early lighter in which zinc metal reacts with sulfuric acid to produce hydrogen gas. When a valve is opened, a jet of hydrogen is released and bursts into flame. The ignition is catalyzed by platinum metal.

Similar
philosopher's lamp
Also see
philosopher's lamp

Origin

It was invented by the German chemist Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Döbereiner's lamp. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/D%C3%B6bereiner's%20lamp

MLA

“Döbereiner's lamp.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/D%C3%B6bereiner's%20lamp. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Döbereiner's lamp,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/D%C3%B6bereiner's%20lamp.

Source: Döbereiner's lamp on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.