This Week in Chemistry: June 23 - June 29

June 23, 2008 at 01:36 AM

Analtech, Inc. is proud to provide this public service feature - This Week in Chemistry - a recap of major breakthroughs in chemistry as well as the commemoration of key individuals birthdates.

Analtech thanks Dr. Leopold May of The Catholic University of America forproviding this information - you can visit his web site by clicking here.

June 23

b. 1775 Etienne-Louis Malus discovered the polarization of light, 1809: developed theory of double refraction of light in crystals, 1810.


June 24

b. 1835 Johannes Wislicenus proposed geometric isomers; synthesized acetoacetic esters.

b. 1840  Émile DuClaux, researcher on osmosis, molecular adhesion, surface tension,  & fermentation; Director, Pasteur Institute, 1895-1904.

 

 

June 25

b. 1812 Hermann von Fehling discovered Fehling's solution as oxidizing agent & as analytical reagent for aldehydes & sugars, composition of paraldehyde & metaldehyde; prepared phenyl cyanide.

b. 1864 Walther H. Nernst, elucidated the theory of galvanic cells, 1889; derived equations by which solids precipitate from saturated solutions, 1889; discovered the 3rd Law of Thermodynamics, 1906; developed an atomic chain reaction theory, 1918; developed improved electric lamp (Nernst lamp); Nernst glower for ir; electric piano (which did not gain acceptance of musicians); Nobel Prize (1920) in Chemistry in recognition of his work in thermochemistry. 

b. 1911 William H. Stein, researcher in enzyme chemistry; Nobel Prize (1972) with Stanford Moore for their contribution to the understanding of the connection between chemical structure and catalytic activity of the active centre of the ribonuclease molecule & Christian B. Anfinsen for his work on ribonuclease, especially concerning the connection between the amino acid sequence and the biologically active conformation.

o Syntex Corporation incorporated, 1957.


June 26

b. 1694 Georg Brandt, discovered cobalt (Co, 27), 1735; one of the first chemists to abandon alchemy as a science.

b. 1756 Jean A. C. Chaptal introduced the name 'nitrogen'; studied viticulture & dyeing.

b. 1824 Lord Kelvin (William Thompson) established theory & practice of thermodynamics, defined the scale of absolute temperature (Kelvin).

o Wilhelm Ostwald converted ammonia to nitric acid using platinum catalyst, 1907.


June 27

b. 1909 Arthur Clay Cope, researcher in synthetic organic chemistry including medium-sized ring compounds. 

o  Abraham Gesner patented process for obtaining kerosene by distillation, 1854.


June 28

b. 1825 Richard A. C. M. Erlenmeyer, researcher in synthesis of aliphatic compounds, isobutyric acid & guanidine; invented “Erlenmeyer” flask. 

b. 1873 Alexis Carrel, suturing blood vessels in organ transplants; Nobel Prize in Medicine (1912), in recognition of his work on vascular suture and the transplantation of blood-vessels and organs. 

b. 1927 F. Sherwood Rowland researcher in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone: Nobel Prize (1995) with Paul J. Crutzen and Mario J. Molina for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone.

June 29

b. 1787 Nils G. Sefstrom one of the discoverers of vanadium (V, 23), 1830.

b. 1833 Peter Waage, formulated Law of Mass Action with Cato M. Guldberg and presented their paper "Studier over Affiniteten" before the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters in 1864.