The Discovery of Benzene Ring
One of the most famous instances of dream-discovery was that of the ring structure of Benzene. Till Kekule made the discovery, molecular structures were conceived as linear. This, however, did not explain many properties of Benzene. Kekule was trying to figure out a structure - not with much success - when the solution came to him in a dream. He described this experience to a assembly of scientists who had met to commemorate his discovery:
"...I turned my chair toward the fire place and sank into a doze. Again the atoms were flitting before my eyes. Smaller groups now kept modestly in the background. My mind's eye sharpened by repeated visions of a similar sort, now distinguished larger structures of varying forms. Long rows frequently rose together, all in movement, winding and turning like serpents; and see! what was that? One of the serpents seized its own tail and the form whirled mockingly before my eyes. I came awake like a flash of lightning. This time also I spent the remainder of the night working out the consequences of the hypothesis."
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