ACADEMICIAN JAROSLAV HEY~OVSKY, NOBEL PRIZE WINNER FOR CHEMISTRY

The work of Academician H e y r o v s k ~ , who in 1959 achieved the highest international scientific recognition by the award of the Nobel prize for che- mistry, is well known under the names polarography, polarographie analysis and oscillographic polarography, which were born from the discovery of an original method of electrolysis with the mercury dropping electrode. This discovery, made by H e y r o v s k ~ in 1922 at the beginning of his research work in the field of electrocapillarity, consisted in a proper estimation of the advantages offered by the mercury dropping electrode for investigation into electrolysis by measuring the current intensity as a function of the polarizing voltage. At that time Hey rovsks~ tried to elucidate the cause of a certain characteristic deformation of the electrocapillary curve of mercury. He learned more about this problem during his final examinations from his teacher B. K u S e r a , professor of Physics at Charles University. K u S e r a first met with these deformations when instead of observing the level of polarized mercury in a capillary tube -- which is the principle of the Lippmann method -- he determined the surface tension from the weight of mercury drops regularly dropping from a capillary tube, immersed in the solution of an electrolyte. Heyrovsk :~ , who became acquainted with measurements of electrolytic potentials on drops of diluted amalgams, slowly flowing from a capillary electrode, during his studies at London University, continued with K u 6era 's experiments for two years until a lucky idea of using the mercury dropping electrode in an electrolytic arrangement and measuring the cmTent intensity brought about a change in the experimental procedure, transferring the in- vestigations to a quite new and unexplored field. In 1924 the first polarograph was constructed in the Institute workshop, thus providing a suitable tool for the rapid and systematic development of research in a hitherto untouched branch of electrochemistry. Work along these lines became the main scientific activity of H e y r o v s k ~ , who through his scientific intuition and clear-sighted efforts founded and built up an extensive branch of theoretical and applied electrochemistry.

The first decade of polarography meant pioneering work, developed exclusive- ly by H e y r o v s k : ~ and his immediate pupils, including M. S h i k a t a , who participated in constructing the polarograph and after his return to Japan from Prague he founded in Kyoto the first centre of polarographic research abroad. In a similar way other polarographic laboratories were gradually set up in Poland, Italy, the U.S.S.R., the United States, Germany etc., the creation of which was either stimulated by the visits of foreign scientists to Prague or by H e y r o v s k :~'s lecture tours. The international journal Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications -- des t ravaux chimiques de Tchd- coslovaquie, founded in 1929 by Heyrovsk~- and E. V o t o 6 e k , contributed to a considerable extent to acquainting scientists abroad with polarographic work.

Even after polarographic research abroad had become firmly established, H e y r o v s k ~ and his Prague school set the main lines of its further deve- lopment. He and his pupils worked out an exact theory of polarographic curves involving the broadest solution of the problem of mass-transfer~ gave an interpretation of hydrogen overvoltage on the surface of mercury,

C z e c h . J . P h y s . B 10 (196{}) 77

R. Brdi~lza: Academician Heyrovsk~ Nobel Prize Winner

and explained t.he factors causing its catalytic evolution,: derived the criteria of very-fast and stow electrode processes, solved:physico~chemical problems of the complexity of ions, of reaction kinetics, of the mechanisms of electro- reduction as well as electrooxidation of numerous inorgani c and organic depolarizers~ showed the relations between the. chemical structure 0f.different organic compounds and their depolarizing potentials,::on a wide experimental scale studied the phenomena of current maxima having their origin in.the convection o f the electrolytes explained t h e effects of electrode adsorPtion and smfface films, inhibiting electrode processes etc. Of the foreign schools which decisively contributed to the solution .of some Of these fundamental questions mention should be made particularly: of the German school Of Pro~ lessor M, v. S t a c k e l b e r g and the Soviet school 0f A; N: F r u m k i n ,

Apart from the purely physico-chemiCal aspects Heyrovsk:~ and his pupils devoted attention also to the analytical applications of the method, both in various fields of pure and applied chemistry and in other spheres of natural sciences such as biology; physiology and medicine. I t s principle was: succes: fully used for the construction of continuous-service analyzers; permitting the control and regulation of industrial processes.

An important complement to the study of electrolytic processes on the mercury dropping electrode is so-called oscillographic polarography, founded and greatly developed by H e y r o v s k : ~ after the war; This records :and ana- lyzes different types of curves; representing dependences: intensity-time, potential-time, derivative of potential-time, and derivative of potential- potential. These curves, recorded on the screen of an electron oscillograph, can be used to study the courses of extremely fast electrode processes and thus to obtain further information on their character. The method of oscillographic polarography, using a streaming electrode in addition to the mercury dropping electrode, has many advantages in special cases of analytical applications.

The extent of this gigantic work, instigated by the endeavour and scientific ideas of one man, is last but not least proved by the fact that world polaro- graphic literature today comprises Over ten thousand publications, in over 20 languages, and that nearly 20 manufacturers of different types of polaro- graphs, constructed on Heyrovsk~- 's principle, are registered abroad.

The meritorious and very successful scientific activity of Professor Hey- r o v s k ~ has been accorded honourable awards both at home and abroad and has enjoyed the full support of the Government. In 1950 the Czechoslovak Government established the Central Polarographic Institute which two: years later was transferred to the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, and ProfeSsor H e y r o v s k ~ , as its Director, was named Academician. In 1951 he received a State Prize of the 1st degree for research in the field of 0scfllographic polaro- graphy and in 1955 was awarded the Order of the Republic. :

All older and younger pupils, who feel themselves members of~the large po- larographic family, greatly respect their teacher, both for his scientific autho- rity and for his friendly attitude to all who in the slightest way contributed to the success of polarographic work, and wish that in the future he may enjoy further successes of his tireless and fruitful work.

Academician R. BrdiSka

78 Hex. r :H4. B I0 (196~

A H A ] I E M I / I H f I P O C J I A B F E I 3 P O B C H I d i I u

H O B E g I E B C H O I Y I I I P E M I / I I / I B O B J I A C T I / I X H MI / I I / I

3 A 1 9 5 9 F.

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Czech. J. Phys . B 10 (1960) 7 9

R. BrdiSka: A~aOemun Fe~poec~u(t yOocmoe~t HoSeaeec~o~t npeatu~

chimiques de Tch6coslovuquie, oc~osatmLtfI B 1929 r. Hpo~. F e f i p o n c n ~ n ~po~. BOTO~e~o~L

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A~aReMH~ R. Brdi6ka

80 "r-Iex, ~Ha, :~K, B 10 (1960)