Georgi Bliznakoff
Encyclopedia
Georgi Bliznakov was an eminent Bulgaria
n chemist
. He was head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry
and rector at Sofia University
, director of the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
and vice-chairman of the academy.
, Bulgaria. After graduating in chemistry in 1943 from Sofia University he worked in industry until 1946, when he joined the University of Varna as an assistant in inorganic and physical chemistry
. In 1949 he joined the Department of Physical Chemistry at the Polytechnic Institute in Sofia
(now the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy) as an assistant where he stayed until moving to the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at Sofia University
in 1951, becoming full professor and head of department in 1960. He stayed in that post until 1989, serving as university rector from 1981 to 1985.
. He the first to introduce adsorption
as a thermodynamic factor in crystal growth, and studied catalysis
, particular in relation to ammonia
oxidation, the preparation of pure substances, radiochemical
processes, and the effect of impurities on the linear crystallization rate.
He is the co-author of some of the most popular secondary school chemistry text books in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
. He was head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds. This field covers all chemical compounds except the myriad organic compounds , which are the subjects of organic chemistry...
and rector at Sofia University
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
, director of the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
and vice-chairman of the academy.
Biography
Bliznakov was born in 1920 in BerkovitsaBerkovitsa
Berkovitsa is a town and ski resort in northwestern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Berkovitsa Municipality, Montana Province and is close to the town of Varshets...
, Bulgaria. After graduating in chemistry in 1943 from Sofia University he worked in industry until 1946, when he joined the University of Varna as an assistant in inorganic and physical chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
. In 1949 he joined the Department of Physical Chemistry at the Polytechnic Institute in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
(now the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy) as an assistant where he stayed until moving to the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at Sofia University
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
in 1951, becoming full professor and head of department in 1960. He stayed in that post until 1989, serving as university rector from 1981 to 1985.
Academic interests
Bliznakov's main area of research was crystallizationCrystallization
Crystallization is the process of formation of solid crystals precipitating from a solution, melt or more rarely deposited directly from a gas. Crystallization is also a chemical solid–liquid separation technique, in which mass transfer of a solute from the liquid solution to a pure solid...
. He the first to introduce adsorption
Adsorption
Adsorption is the adhesion of atoms, ions, biomolecules or molecules of gas, liquid, or dissolved solids to a surface. This process creates a film of the adsorbate on the surface of the adsorbent. It differs from absorption, in which a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid...
as a thermodynamic factor in crystal growth, and studied catalysis
Catalysis
Catalysis is the change in rate of a chemical reaction due to the participation of a substance called a catalyst. Unlike other reagents that participate in the chemical reaction, a catalyst is not consumed by the reaction itself. A catalyst may participate in multiple chemical transformations....
, particular in relation to 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...
oxidation, the preparation of pure substances, radiochemical
Radiochemistry
Radiochemistry is the chemistry of radioactive materials, where radioactive isotopes of elements are used to study the properties and chemical reactions of non-radioactive isotopes...
processes, and the effect of impurities on the linear crystallization rate.
He is the co-author of some of the most popular secondary school chemistry text books in Bulgaria.