Electrochemistry: An Historical View

The History of Electrochemistry is nearly as long as the history of modern chemistry.  Rather than to repeat it here, here are some links to those who have chronicled some of it.   

BAS has a nice summary of the history of electrochemistry from the days of Galvani up to Heyrovský. It first appeared as their 1997 calendar. According to that account, the "polarograph" was born on February 10, 1922.  I think it should be a National holiday!

Heyrovský also received attention in the ACS's Luminaries of Chemistry. Look for his name at the end of the New Alchemy section. He won the 1959 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. There is more about him and his work at the Nobel site.

The Chemical Heritage Foundation has a section on Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Industries. The CHF is a storehouse of info on the history of chemistry. Worth a visit!

Today's Chemist at Work had a nice article on the role electrochemistry played in industrial chemistry. It focuses on chlorine and "caustic soda" production at the end of the 1800s.

TCAW also published short biographies of Humphry Davy (April 2004) and his student, Michael Faraday (May 2004) in their Chemistry Chronicles column.  NEW 

Bard and Zoski published an A-pages review entitled "Voltammetry Retrospective" in Analytical Chemistry, May 1, 2000; pp. 346A-352A.  If you are a subscriber, you can read it on line.

To Electrochemistry and Beyond!

© Copyright 2002-2008 Robert S. Rodgers. All rights reserved. 
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