Born in Moscow, Ipatieff first studied artillery in the Mikhailovskaya Artillery Academy in Petersburg, then later studied chemistry in Russia with Alexei Yevgrafovich Favorskii and in Germany.
Moskova'da doğan Ipatieff, önce Petersburg'daki Mikhailovskaya Topçu Akademisi'nde topçuluk eğitimi aldı, daha sonra Alexei Yevgrafovich Favorskii ile ve Almanya'da kimya okudu.