Hermann Lux
Encyclopedia
Hermann Lux was a prominent inorganic chemist
from Munich
, Germany.
Lux studied chemistry in the University of Karlsruhe where he graduated with honors in 1928 and then completed his education in the University of Bonn in 1929. He returned to Karlsruhe and worked there until his move to Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
in 1937, where he worked as an assistant until 1940, then as a lecturer until 1946 and then became the head of the analytical chemistry department.
He became an associate professor in 1944 and a full professor in 1955. He moved to the Technical University of Munich
in 1968 where he was a full professor of inorganic
and analytical
chemistry until his retirement in 1973. He died on 8 July 1999, almost 95 years old.
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...
from 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...
, Germany.
Lux studied chemistry in the University of Karlsruhe where he graduated with honors in 1928 and then completed his education in the University of Bonn in 1929. He returned to Karlsruhe and worked there until his move to Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich , commonly known as the University of Munich or LMU, is a university in Munich, Germany...
in 1937, where he worked as an assistant until 1940, then as a lecturer until 1946 and then became the head of the analytical chemistry department.
He became an associate professor in 1944 and a full professor in 1955. He moved to the Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
in 1968 where he was a full professor of inorganic
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 analytical
Analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry is the study of the separation, identification, and quantification of the chemical components of natural and artificial materials. Qualitative analysis gives an indication of the identity of the chemical species in the sample and quantitative analysis determines the amount of...
chemistry until his retirement in 1973. He died on 8 July 1999, almost 95 years old.
Achievements
- Discovered a method of quantitative determination of 1 ppm quantities of mercuryMercury (element)Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
(1931, together with Alfred Stick) - Extensively studied chemical reactions in molten salts, leading up to the Lux-Flood acid-base theory (1937)
- Invented the "hanging melt" method which made it possible to study extremely aggressive molten salt systems, such as alkali oxides.
- Investigated salts of metals in unusual oxidation states, such as bivalent chromiumChromiumChromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
or pentavalent manganeseManganeseManganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
. - Published a number of books including "Anorganisch-chemische Experimentierkunst" (Inorganic-chemical experimental art) and "Praktikum der quantitativen anorganischen Analyse" (Practical course of the quantitative inorganic analysis) which were translated into many languages and used by many analytic chemists.