Eduard Zintl
Encyclopedia
Eduard Zintl was a German chemist.
After his family moved from Weiden
and Bayreuth to Munich
and after he had finished school he was drafted for military service during World War I
. At the age of 21 he started studying at the University of Munich with Otto Hönigschmid
. He got his PhD at the age of 25 with a thesis on the molar mass of bromine. He stayed with Otto Hönigschmid
's group, where he was involved in the supervision of PhD students, for example Josef Goubeau
and Günther Rienäcker. From 1928 till 1933 he was professor of inorganic chemistry at the University of Freiburg
. During this period he studied the structure of complex anions formed by metals in a solution of sodium
in ammonia
. [Na(NH3)x]+4[Pb9]4− is one of the examples he discovered.
In 1933 he moved to a position at the Darmstadt University of Technology
where a new building for inorganic and physical chemistry was planned and built. The research on complex anions lead him to the discovery of the Zintl phase
s. In the Zintl phase the structure of the Zintl ion (polyanion) should be similar to an isoelectronic element. For example in Na2Tl the polyanion is tetrahedral (Tl4)8− similar to the phosphorus molecule P4.
After his family moved from Weiden
Weiden
- Places :In Austria* Weiden am See in the district of Neusiedl am See in Burgenland* Weiden bei Rechnitz in the district of Oberwart in the Burgenland* Weiden an der March in the district of Gänserndorf in Lower AustriaIn Germany...
and Bayreuth to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and after he had finished school he was drafted for military service during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. At the age of 21 he started studying at the University of Munich with Otto Hönigschmid
Otto Hönigschmid
Otto Hönigschmid was a Czech/Austrian chemist.-Education:Hönigschmid studied at the gymnasium in Olomouc, then at the Charles University in Prague under the guidance of Guido Goldschmiedt .-Work:Hönigschmid worked in Paris under Henri Moissan and at Harvard University under...
. He got his PhD at the age of 25 with a thesis on the molar mass of bromine. He stayed with Otto Hönigschmid
Otto Hönigschmid
Otto Hönigschmid was a Czech/Austrian chemist.-Education:Hönigschmid studied at the gymnasium in Olomouc, then at the Charles University in Prague under the guidance of Guido Goldschmiedt .-Work:Hönigschmid worked in Paris under Henri Moissan and at Harvard University under...
's group, where he was involved in the supervision of PhD students, for example Josef Goubeau
Josef Goubeau
Josef Goubeau was a German chemist.- Life and work :Goubeau studied chemistry at the University of Munich starting from 1921 and attained a doctorate there 1926 on the atomic weight regulation of the potassiumin the group of Otto Hönigschmid under the supervision of Eduard Zintl...
and Günther Rienäcker. From 1928 till 1933 he was professor of inorganic chemistry at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
. During this period he studied the structure of complex anions formed by metals in a solution of sodium
Sodium
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals; its only stable isotope is 23Na. It is an abundant element that exists in numerous minerals, most commonly as sodium chloride...
in ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
. [Na(NH3)x]+4[Pb9]4
In 1933 he moved to a position at the Darmstadt University of Technology
Darmstadt University of Technology
The Technische Universität Darmstadt, abbreviated TU Darmstadt, is a university in the city of Darmstadt, Germany...
where a new building for inorganic and physical chemistry was planned and built. The research on complex anions lead him to the discovery of the Zintl phase
Zintl phase
In chemistry a Zintl phase is the product of a reaction between*group 1 or group 2 and*post transition metals or metalloids from group 13, 14, 15 or 16....
s. In the Zintl phase the structure of the Zintl ion (polyanion) should be similar to an isoelectronic element. For example in Na2Tl the polyanion is tetrahedral (Tl4)8