Lars Fredrik Nilson was a Swedish chemist born on January 10, 1834, in the city of Stockholm. He is best known for his work in the field of chemistry, particularly for his contributions to the study of silicon and its compounds. Nilson's research helped to advance the understanding of chemical elements and their properties. In 1881, Nilson discovered the element scandium, which was later named after Scandinavia. His work laid the foundation for further research in the field of rare earth elements. Nilson passed away on December 14, 1899, leaving a significant legacy in the scientific community.