Chemical and Pharmacognostic Collection
The historical Chemical and Pharmacognostic Collection in the HCI building highlights some of the many faces of chemistry.
More than 1000 pieces take you into the exciting world of Prof. Carl Hartwich's stimulants and addictive substances from all over the world, an esoteric collection of books about herbs, colorful dyes such as tar dyes or indigo-dyed Levi's jeans, and even bizarre instruments used in chemistry laboratories. In addition, the life and work of Nobel Prize winners in chemistry spanning 150 years as well as a virtual 3D tour of an ETH Zurich chemistry laboratory from 1900 are all awaiting discovery.
The Chemical and Pharmacognostic Collection has also been a member of the Swiss Museums Association (VMS) since 2024.
The lab can also be visited with VR glasses. To the VR Version
To the history and buildings of chemistry and pharmacy at ETH Zurich
To the Nobel Prize laureates of the D-CHAB
On site, brochures on the collection as well as on the medicinal herb garden of the Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Sciences are available for free.
Learn more about the collection's history.
More information about previous formats and offers of the collection (available in German): temporary exhibition and evening tour.
Contact
Dep. Chemie und Angew. Biowiss.
Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10
8093
Zürich
Switzerland