Richard Adolf Zsigmondy

Austrian-born chemist

Born: April 1, 1865 · Died: September 23, 1929

Famous Persons

Richard Adolf Zsigmondy — Image via Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia.

Overview

Legacy

He enjoyed hobbies such as climbing and mountaineering with his siblings.

Who was Richard Adolf Zsigmondy?

Richard Adolf Zsigmondy (Hungarian: Zsigmondy Richárd Adolf; 1 April 1865 – 23 September 1929) was an Austrian-born chemist. Zsigmondy was born in Vienna, Austrian Empire, to a Hungarian gentry family. His mother Irma Szakmáry, a poet born in Martonvásár, and his father, Adolf Zsigmondy Sr., a scientist from Pressburg (Pozsony, today's Bratislava) who invented several surgical instruments for use in dentistry. Zsigmondy family members were Lutherans. Richard was raised by his mother after his father's early death in 1880, and received a comprehensive education. They originated from Johannes (Hungarian: János) Sigmondi (1686–1746, Bártfa, Kingdom of Hungary) and included teachers, priests and Hungarian freedom-fighters.

Historical significance

He was known for his research in colloids, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1925, as well as for co-inventing the slit-ultramicroscope, and different membrane filters. The crater Zsigmondy on the Moon is named in his honour.

Title page to Zur Erkenntnis der Kolloide. Uber irreversible Hydrosole und Ultramikroskopie (1905)

Sources and further reading

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Wikipedia source

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MLA

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APA

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Chicago

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