Biographical Memoirs Volume 47 (1975) / Chapter Skim
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3 William Draper Harkins
3 William Draper Harkins
Pages 48-81
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From page 49... ...
Besides this, his work in chemistry covers a broad range of physical chemistry, with especial emphasis on surface phenomena. He was a meticulous and resourceful experimenter, as well as an enterprising one, who did not hesitate to enter new fields and use new techniques.
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From page 50... ...
He was chemist in charge of smelter investigations for the Anaconda Farmers Association (1902-1910) , the Montana Copper Company of California (1904)
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From page 51... ...
Throughout his career, while carrying on notable work In pure science, he also contributed to applied science: as a consulting chemist with the U.S.13ureau of Mines, 1920-1922; consulting engineer, U.S. Air Service, 1924-1927; and consulting chemist, Chemical Warfare Service from 1927, Libby-Owens-Ford Glass Company from 1929, Universal Oil Products Company, 1930-1951, and United States Rubber Company, 1939-1941.
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From page 52... ...
Harkins' contributions to pure science covered a wide spectrum in the field of physical chemistry, extending also into physics. When I came to Chicago as a graduate student in 1918, it was because I had read about Harkins' pioneering work toward the understanding of nuclear structure, a subject ignored at that time by American physicists.
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From page 53... ...
To illustrate, let us consider surface tension. I did not realize that the importance of the study of surfaces and surface energy arises from the fact that the surface lies outside every body, particle or cell.
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From page 54... ...
Thus began a long chain of steps, from improved experiments to improved theory to new experiments, which characterized Harkins' work in surface chemistry and related fields for forty years. The sequence was particularly fruitful because Harkins combined meticulous and ingenious experimental techniques with a knack for original interpretation of data.
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From page 55... ...
The latter once remarked that the principle was obtained within a few hours after he had picked up notes of a conference held some ten years earlier with Harkins." Continuing further with the quotation from Harkins' Gibbs Medal address, first about his work on surface chemistry, "Now the greatest of solubility rules is 'similia similibus solvThis rule suggested that the experiments on surface tension might have given results more in accord with the theory if more complicated molecules, such as those present in the muscles, had been used. It is advisable, however, in scientific work, to use as simple materials as will give the desired behavior, so substances like butyric acid were considered....
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From page 56... ...
Again, in the Gibbs Medal address, Harkins explains his interest in atomic nuclei as follows: "In order to understand the action of surfaces, it appeared essential to learn as much as possible about the electrical structure of molecules and of atoms, so, in 1913, I began to study more intensively the current theories of atomic structure. In 1904, Nagaoka had suggested that an atom consists of a central sun or nucleus and a system of negative electrons as satellites.
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From page 57... ...
D Wilson in 1915 represents the first of a number of papers published over the years in which Harkins developed ideas on the structure of atomic nuclei.
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From page 58... ...
This work culminated in his "new periodic system" of atomic species expressed in a diagram of "isotonic ~ ~ ~ A_ 1~ ~ ~ = ~ ~ T ~ ~ 1 - -A ~ ~ rat \r~-~/~ ,, $~1AV - _ _ c~-susaromlc number. Here, if the structure of any nucleus is written as (p2e)
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From page 59... ...
Rutherford in his Bakerian lecture in 1920 describes the properties of the neutron as a conceivable free particle. The idea that such a particle might exist kept Rutherford's laboratory "on the lookout" for it and doubtless thereby contributed to Chadwick's discovery.
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From page 60... ...
F Young's introduction to Harkins' book on surface chemistry, mentioned above.
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From page 61... ...
His productivity, especially after 1940, was greatly enhanced by financial aid from industries and government agencies interested in catalysis, lubrication, the production of rubber, and other applications of surface chemistry. It was his own dominating curiosity, however, which was the principal cause of the productiveness which endured literally to the last day of his life."
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From page 62... ...
Chem. Journal of Physical Chemistry i.
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From page 63... ...
Energy relations involved in the formation of complex atoms. Philos.
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From page 64... ...
The orientation of molecules in the surfaces of liquids, the energy relations at surfaces, solubility, adsorption, emulsification, molecular association, and the effect of acids and bases on interracial tension.
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From page 65... ...
Sci., ~ :539. Cohesion, internal pressure, adhesion, tensile strength, tensile energy, negative surface energy, and molecular attraction.
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From page 66... ...
The orientation of molecules in surfaces: cohesion, adhesion, tensile strength, tensile energy, negative surface energy, interracial tension and molecular attraction.
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From page 67... ...
Soc., 45:591. Isotopes, a new relation concerning the periodic system of the atomic species.
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From page 68... ...
Monomolecular films between liquids: butyric acid between water and hexane, and acetic acid between water and benzene.
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From page 69... ...
Die Atomsynthese, die sich in Begleitung van Atomspaltung (Atomzertrummerung) kundgibt, und die Theorie vom Aulbau der Atome aus Wasserstoff und Helium.
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From page 70... ...
Soc, 53:850. A relation concerning atomic nuclei.
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From page 71... ...
A neutron of high velocity, and energy relations for nuclear disintegration by non-capture.
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From page 72... ...
Contact potentials and the effects of unimolecular films on surface potentials.
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From page 73... ...
Ries, fir. The rearrangement of molecules in plastic monomolecular films: pressure-area and potential relations for polycyclic compounds of the five ring series.
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From page 74... ...
I A simple accurate film balance of the vertical type for biological and chemical work, and a theoretical and experimental comparison with the horizontal type.
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From page 75... ...
Some aspects of surface chemistry fundamental to biology.
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From page 76... ...
Nature, 148:743. A general thermodynamic theory of the spreading of liquids to form duplex films and of liquids or solids to form monolayers.
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From page 77... ...
Tura. The decrease of free surface energy as a basis for the development of equations for adsorption isotherms; and the existence of two condensed phases in films on solids.
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From page 78... ...
XI. Determination of the decrease of free surface energy of a solid by an adsorbed film.
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From page 79... ...
Loci of emulsion polymerization: the diffusion of organic molecules from emulsion droplets through an aqueous phase into soap micelles.
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From page 80... ...
Determination of the critical concentration for micelle formation in solutions of colloidal electrolytes by the spectral change of a dye.
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From page 81... ...
1952 Physical Chemistry of Surface Films. New York: Reinhold Publishing Corporation.
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