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Mozes GombergAmerican organic chemist known as the "father of radical chemistry"
Date of Birth: 08.02.1866
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Moses Gomberg: The Father of Radical Chemistry
- Scientific Accomplishments
- Nobel Aspirations and Leadership
- Legacy
Moses Gomberg: The Father of Radical Chemistry
Early Life and EducationBorn in Yelisavetgrad, Ukraine, on February 8, 1866, Moses Gomberg was the son of merchant parents. A violent anti-Semitic pogrom in 1881 prompted the Gomberg family to consider emigration. In 1884, Moses graduated from secondary school, and the family relocated to the United States.
Gomberg pursued his education at the University of Michigan, graduating in 1890. He earned his doctorate there in 1894, specializing in organic chemistry.
Scientific Accomplishments
Gomberg's postdoctoral work in Europe with renowned chemists such as Adolf von Baeyer, Johannes Thiele, and Victor Meyer paved the way for his groundbreaking research.
In 1900, Gomberg stumbled upon the existence of triphenylmethyl radicals, earning him the title of "father of radical chemistry." Radicals are highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons.
Nobel Aspirations and Leadership
Gomberg's seminal work on free radical chemistry earned him seven Nobel Prize nominations. In 1924, he developed a method for synthesizing diaryls from aromatic compounds. He also made significant contributions to the automotive industry by creating the first antifreeze.
Gomberg served as the head of the University of Michigan's chemistry department from 1927 to 1936. He was also elected President of the American Chemical Society in 1931.
Legacy
Moses Gomberg's groundbreaking discovery of free radicals revolutionized the field of organic chemistry. His impact continues to inspire research and innovation in chemistry today. Despite his numerous achievements, he never received the Nobel Prize, but his contributions remain widely acknowledged and celebrated.
