Anna Volkova

Anna Feodorovna Volkova was a Russian chemist known for her work in organic chemistry. Volkova was the first chemist to prepare pure ortho-toluene sulfonic acid, its acyl chloride, and its amide (1870). She was also the first chemist to synthesize para-tricresyl phosphate from para-cresol, a component of plasticizer. Volkova was the first woman to receive a diploma in chemistry (1870), the first woman in the world to publish scientific work in chemistry, and the first woman to be a member of the Russian Chemical Society.