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{{Short description|Canadian-born American chemist}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Close paraphrasing|Biography|https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1949/giauque/biographical/|free=no|date=March 2021}}
{{One source|date=July 2021}}
}}
{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
|name = William Francis Giauque
| name = William Francis Giauque
|image = William Giauque Nobel.jpg
| image =
|caption =
| caption = Giauque in 1949
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1895|5|12}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1895|5|12}}
|birth_place = [[Niagara Falls, Ontario]], Canada
| birth_place = [[Niagara Falls, Ontario]], Canada
|nationality = [[United States|American]]
| nationality = American
|death_date = {{death date and age| 1982|3|28|1895|5|12 }}
| death_date = {{death date and age| 1982|3|28|1895|5|12 }}
|death_place = [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], [[California]]
| death_place = [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], California, US
|field = [[Physical chemistry]]
| field = [[Physical chemistry]]
|work_institution = [[University of California, Berkeley]]
| work_institution = [[University of California, Berkeley]]
|alma_mater = [[University of California, Berkeley]]
| alma_mater = [[University of California, Berkeley]]
|doctoral_advisor =
| doctoral_advisor = [[George Ernest Gibson]]
| doctoral_students = [[Theodore H. Geballe]]
|prizes = {{no wrap|[[Elliott Cresson Medal]] (1937)<br>[[Nobel Prize for Chemistry]] (1949)<br>[[Willard Gibbs Award]] (1951)}}
| prizes = {{no wrap|[[Elliott Cresson Medal]] (1937)<br>[[Nobel Prize for Chemistry]] (1949)<br>[[Willard Gibbs Award]] (1951)}}
}}
}}


'''William Francis Giauque''' ({{IPAc-en|dʒ|i|ˈ|oʊ|k}};<ref>''The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia'', 2004.</ref> May 12, 1895 – March 28, 1982) was an [[United States|American]] chemist and [[Nobel laureate]] recognized in 1949 for his studies in the properties of [[matter]] at temperatures close to [[absolute zero]]. He spent virtually all of his educational and professional career at the University of California, Berkeley.
'''William Francis Giauque''' ({{IPAc-en|dʒ|i|ˈ|oʊ|k}};<ref>''The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia'', 2004.</ref> May 12, 1895 – March 28, 1982) was a Canadian-born (American) chemist and [[Nobel laureate]]. He was recognized in 1949, for his studies in the properties of [[matter]], at temperatures close to [[absolute zero]]. He spent virtually all of his educational and professional career at the University of California, Berkeley.


==Biography==
==Biography==
William Francis Giauque was born in [[Niagara Falls, Ontario]], on May 12, 1895.
William Francis Giauque was born in [[Niagara Falls, Ontario]], on May 12, 1895.


His father (William Tecumseh Giauque) was an American citizen, and so William Francis Giauque was conferred American citizenship, despite being born in Canada,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Pitzer |first=Kenneth S. |url=https://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/giauque-w-f.pdf |title=William Francis Giauque 1895—1982 |last2=Shirley |first2=David A. |publisher=National Academies Press |year=1996 |location=Washington D.C. |pages=39-57 |language=en}}</ref> allowing him to attend public grammar schools in Michigan.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1949/giauque/biographical/ |title=Nobel Lectures, Chemistry 1942-1962 |publisher=Elsevier Publishing Company |year=1964 |location=Amsterdam |chapter=William F. Giauque}}</ref> In 1908, his father died, and he returned to Canada for his secondary education. After completing a two-year business course at the Niagara Falls Collegiate Institute, he searched for work in the field of electrical engineering, and eventually found employment at the [[Hooker Chemical Company|Hooker Electrochemical Company]] in [[Niagara Falls, New York]]. He decided to become a chemical engineer through his experience there.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
As his parents were [[United States|U.S.]] citizens, they returned to the U.S. where he attended public schools primarily in Michigan. Following the death of his father in 1908, the family returned to Niagara Falls, where he studied at the Niagara Falls Collegiate Institute. After graduation, he looked for work in various power plants at Niagara Falls both for financial reasons and to pursue a career in electrical engineering. He was widely unsuccessful.


⚫
After two years of employment, he entered the [[UC Berkeley College of Chemistry|College of Chemistry]] of the [[University of California, Berkeley]], where he received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in 1920. He entered graduate school at Berkeley, becoming a University Fellow (1920–1921) and a James M. Goewey Fellow (1921–1922). He received the Ph.D. degree in chemistry with a minor in physics in 1922.
Eventually, however, his application was accepted by the [[Hooker Electro-Chemical Company]] in [[Niagara Falls, New York]], which led him to employment in their laboratory. He enjoyed the work, and decided to become a chemical engineer.


Giauque was elected a member of the United States [[National Academy of Sciences]] in 1936,<ref>{{Cite web |title=W. F. Giauque |url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/deceased-members/20001833.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=www.nasonline.org}}</ref> a member of the [[American Philosophical Society]] in 1940,<ref>{{Cite web |title=APS Member History |url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=William+Giauque&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=search.amphilsoc.org}}</ref> and the [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]] in 1950.<ref>{{Cite web |title=William Francis Giauque |url=https://www.amacad.org/person/william-francis-giauque |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=American Academy of Arts & Sciences |language=en}}</ref>
⚫
After two years of employment, he entered the [[UC Berkeley College of Chemistry|College of Chemistry]] of the [[University of California, Berkeley]], where he received a bachelor of science degree with honors in 1920. He entered graduate school at Berkeley, becoming a University Fellow (1920–1921) and a James M. Goewey Fellow (1921–1922). He received the Ph.D. degree in chemistry with a minor in physics in 1922.


===Research ===
===Research ===
Although he began university study with an interest in becoming an engineer, he soon developed an interest in research under the influence of Professor [[Gilbert N. Lewis]]. Due to his outstanding performance as a student, he became an Instructor of Chemistry at Berkeley in 1922 and after passing through various grades of professorship, he became a full Professor of Chemistry in 1934. He retired in 1962.
Although he began university study with an interest in becoming an engineer, he soon developed an interest in research under the influence of Professor [[Gilbert N. Lewis]]. Due to his outstanding performance as a student, he became an instructor of chemistry at Berkeley in 1922 and after passing through various grades of professorship, he became a full professor of chemistry in 1934. He retired in 1962.


===Absolute zero===
===Absolute zero===
Line 36: Line 42:
He developed a [[magnetic refrigeration]] device of his own design in order to achieve this outcome, getting closer to absolute zero than many scientists had thought possible. This trailblazing work, apart from proving one of the fundamental laws of nature led to stronger steel, better gasoline and more efficient processes in a range of industries.
He developed a [[magnetic refrigeration]] device of his own design in order to achieve this outcome, getting closer to absolute zero than many scientists had thought possible. This trailblazing work, apart from proving one of the fundamental laws of nature led to stronger steel, better gasoline and more efficient processes in a range of industries.


His researches and that of his students included a large number of entropy determinations from low temperature measurements, particularly on condensed gases. The entropies and other thermodynamic properties of many gases were also determined from [[quantum statistics]] and molecular energy levels available from band spectra as well as other sources.
His research and that of his students included a large number of entropy determinations from low temperature measurements, particularly on condensed gases. The entropies and other thermodynamic properties of many gases were also determined from [[quantum statistics]] and molecular energy levels available from band spectra as well as other sources.


His correlated investigations of the entropy of oxygen with Dr. [[Herrick L. Johnston]], led to the discovery of [[isotopes of oxygen|oxygen isotopes]] 17 and 18 in the Earth's atmosphere and showed that physicists and chemists had been using different scales of atomic weight for years without recognising it.
His correlated investigations of the entropy of oxygen with [[Herrick L. Johnston]], led to the discovery of [[isotopes of oxygen|oxygen isotopes]] 17 and 18 in the Earth's atmosphere and showed that physicists and chemists had been using different scales of atomic weight for years without recognising it.


===Personal life===
===Personal life===
In 1932, Giauque married Dr. Muriel Frances Ashley and they had two sons. He died on March 28, 1982 in [[Berkeley, California]].
In 1932, Giauque married Dr. Muriel Frances Ashley and they had two sons. He died on March 28, 1982, in [[Berkeley, California]].


==Notes==
==Notes==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/biomems/wgiauque.html National Academy of Sciences biography]
* [http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/biomems/wgiauque.html National Academy of Sciences biography]
* {{Nobelprize}} including the Nobel Lecture on December 12, 1949 ''Some Consequences of Low Temperature Research in Chemical Thermodynamics''
* [http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1949/giauque-bio.html William Giauque Nobel Prize biography]
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311000636/http://uk.geocities.com/hertouyt/milko/giauque-speech.html |date=March 11, 2007 |title=Contributions in the field of chemical thermodynamics, particularly concerning the behaviour of substances at extremely low temperatures }}.
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311000636/http://uk.geocities.com/hertouyt/milko/giauque-speech.html |date=March 11, 2007 |title=Contributions in the field of chemical thermodynamics, particularly concerning the behaviour of substances at extremely low temperatures }}.
* {{cite journal | title=William F. Giauque—Nobel Prize for Low-Temperature Research |author1=M. A. Shampo |author2=R. A. Kyle |author3=D. P. Steensma | journal=Mayo Clinic Proceedings | volume=81 | issue=5 | year=2006 | pages=587 | doi=10.4065/81.5.587}}
* {{cite journal | title=William F. Giauque—Nobel Prize for Low-Temperature Research |author1=M. A. Shampo |author2=R. A. Kyle |author3=D. P. Steensma | journal=Mayo Clinic Proceedings | volume=81 | issue=5 | year=2006 | pages=587 | doi=10.4065/81.5.587|pmid=16706253 | doi-access=free }}


{{Nobel Prize in Chemistry Laureates 1926-1950}}
{{Nobel Prize in Chemistry Laureates 1926-1950}}
{{1949 Nobel Prize winners}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:People from Niagara Falls, Ontario]]
[[Category:People from Niagara Falls, Ontario]]
[[Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni]]
[[Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni]]
[[Category:University of California, Berkeley faculty]]
[[Category:UC Berkeley College of Chemistry faculty]]
[[Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]]
[[Category:20th-century American chemists]]

Latest revision as of 22:54, 9 August 2024

William Francis Giauque
Born(1895-05-12)May 12, 1895
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
DiedMarch 28, 1982(1982-03-28) (aged 86)
Berkeley, California, US
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley
AwardsElliott Cresson Medal (1937)
Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1949)
Willard Gibbs Award (1951)
Scientific career
FieldsPhysical chemistry
InstitutionsUniversity of California, Berkeley
Doctoral advisorGeorge Ernest Gibson
Doctoral studentsTheodore H. Geballe

William Francis Giauque (/dʒiˈoʊk/;[1] May 12, 1895 – March 28, 1982) was a Canadian-born (American) chemist and Nobel laureate. He was recognized in 1949, for his studies in the properties of matter, at temperatures close to absolute zero. He spent virtually all of his educational and professional career at the University of California, Berkeley.

Biography

[edit]

William Francis Giauque was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on May 12, 1895.

His father (William Tecumseh Giauque) was an American citizen, and so William Francis Giauque was conferred American citizenship, despite being born in Canada,[2] allowing him to attend public grammar schools in Michigan.[3] In 1908, his father died, and he returned to Canada for his secondary education. After completing a two-year business course at the Niagara Falls Collegiate Institute, he searched for work in the field of electrical engineering, and eventually found employment at the Hooker Electrochemical Company in Niagara Falls, New York. He decided to become a chemical engineer through his experience there.[2][3]

After two years of employment, he entered the College of Chemistry of the University of California, Berkeley, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in 1920. He entered graduate school at Berkeley, becoming a University Fellow (1920–1921) and a James M. Goewey Fellow (1921–1922). He received the Ph.D. degree in chemistry with a minor in physics in 1922.

Giauque was elected a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1936,[4] a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1940,[5] and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1950.[6]

Research

[edit]

Although he began university study with an interest in becoming an engineer, he soon developed an interest in research under the influence of Professor Gilbert N. Lewis. Due to his outstanding performance as a student, he became an instructor of chemistry at Berkeley in 1922 and after passing through various grades of professorship, he became a full professor of chemistry in 1934. He retired in 1962.

Absolute zero

[edit]

He became interested in the third law of thermodynamics as a field of research during his experimental research for his Ph.D. research under Professor George Ernest Gibson comparing the relative entropies of glycerine crystals and glass.

The principal objective of his researches was to demonstrate through range of appropriate tests that the third law of thermodynamics is a basic natural law. In 1926, he proposed a method for observing temperatures considerably below 1 Kelvin (1 K is −457.87 °F or −272.15 °C). His work with D.P. MacDougall between 1933 and 1935 successfully employed them.

He developed a magnetic refrigeration device of his own design in order to achieve this outcome, getting closer to absolute zero than many scientists had thought possible. This trailblazing work, apart from proving one of the fundamental laws of nature led to stronger steel, better gasoline and more efficient processes in a range of industries.

His research and that of his students included a large number of entropy determinations from low temperature measurements, particularly on condensed gases. The entropies and other thermodynamic properties of many gases were also determined from quantum statistics and molecular energy levels available from band spectra as well as other sources.

His correlated investigations of the entropy of oxygen with Herrick L. Johnston, led to the discovery of oxygen isotopes 17 and 18 in the Earth's atmosphere and showed that physicists and chemists had been using different scales of atomic weight for years without recognising it.

Personal life

[edit]

In 1932, Giauque married Dr. Muriel Frances Ashley and they had two sons. He died on March 28, 1982, in Berkeley, California.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2004.
  2. ^ a b Pitzer, Kenneth S.; Shirley, David A. (1996). William Francis Giauque 1895—1982 (PDF). Washington D.C.: National Academies Press. pp. 39–57.
  3. ^ a b "William F. Giauque". Nobel Lectures, Chemistry 1942-1962. Amsterdam: Elsevier Publishing Company. 1964.
  4. ^ "W. F. Giauque". www.nasonline.org. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  5. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  6. ^ "William Francis Giauque". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2023-05-01.

References

[edit]
  • Shampo, Marc A; Kyle, Robert A; Steensma, David P (2006). "Stamp vignette on medical science. William F. Giauque—Nobel Prize for low-temperature research". Mayo Clin. Proc. Vol. 81, no. 5 (published May 2006). p. 587. doi:10.4065/81.5.587. PMID 16706253.
[edit]
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