- Józef Zawadzki (chemist)
Józef Zawadzki (
July 14 1886 inWarsaw –February 22 1951 inZalesie , near Warsaw) was a Polish physical chemist and technologist. Father of Tadeusz ("Zośka") andAnna Zawadzka .Zawadzki was a co-founder, President and Vice-President of the
Polskie Towarzystwo Chemiczne . He was a professor (from 1923) and rector (1936–1939) ofWarsaw University of Technology , and a member of thePolish Academy of Learning (since 1947).The oldest and largest traditional
lecture hall at the Warsaw University of Technology is named Prof. Józef Zawadzki Auditorium. [ [http://www.ch.pw.edu.pl/en/ The Faculty of Chemistry - Official Page, Warsaw University of Technology] , retrieved2008-05-28 .]Research
His main field of research was physicochemical fundamentals of chemical technology. He was researching contact
oxidation ofammonia ,naphthalene andanthracene , mechanism of ammonia oxidation on platinum at low temperatures, reduction ofiron dioxide by amethane , methods of obtainingaluminium oxide from Polishkaolinite andaluminosilicate , use of Polishanhydrite andgypsum deposit to productionsulfuric acid andcementum , kinematics of thermal dissociation.Under the German occupation of Poland during
World War II , he was involved in the clandestine operation of the Warsaw University of Technology. Together withMarceli Struszyński , Zawadzki analyzed captured GermanV-2 rocket for its fuel composition. In 1947, he was recognized with a Doctor Honoris Causa. [ [http://www.technikumchemiczne.edu.pl/patron.html Technikum Chemiczne nr 3 in Warsaw, Poland] , retrieved2008-05-28 .]Mechanism of ammonia oxidation on platinum at low temperatures
The mechanism of ammonia oxidation on platinum at low temperature was postulated by
F. Rachsig (1927) and later adapted by Zawadzki (1948, 1950) to proceed via formation onimide (NH). In this proposal formation ofnitroxyl andhydrazine (N2H4) is involved:Sobczyk (2003), p. 6.]: NH3 + O(a) → NH(a) + H2O: NH(a) + O(a) → HNO(a) + *: NH(a) + NH3 → N2H4(a): HNO(a) + NH3 → N2H4(a) + ½O2: N2H4(a) + O2 → N2 + 2H2O + *
Later,
Y. M. Fogel (1964) disproved the Zawadzki theory that NH is formed via the oxidation of ammonia. In his proposal, NO is an important intermediate of the reaction. The formation of N2O is not detected, therefore the mechanism does not involve its production.Works
* "Technologia chemiczna nieorganiczna" vol. 1–2 (1948–1949)
Notes
References
* cite book
last=Broek
first=Arnoldus Cornelis Maria van den
title=Low temperature oxidation of ammonia over platinum and iridium catalysts
year=1998
isbn=9038606281
url=http://alexandria.tue.nl/extra3/proefschrift/boeken/9803814.pdf
format=PDF
* cite book
last=Sobczyk
first=Dariusz Piotr
title=Positron emission profiling study of ammonia oxidation on platinum
year=2003
isbn=9038630344
url=http://alexandria.tue.nl/extra2/200311957.pdf
format=PDF
* cite web
title=Zawadzki Józef
work=Internetowa encyklopedia PWN
url=http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=4000649
accessdate=2007-12-01
language=Polish
publisher=Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN
* cite web
title=Zawadzki Józef
work=WIEM Encyklopedia
url=http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/73590,,,,zawadzki_jozef,haslo.html
language=Polish
accessdate=2007-12-01Persondata
NAME=Zawadzki, Józef
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=physical chemist, technologist
DATE OF BIRTH=July 14 ,1886
PLACE OF BIRTH=Warsaw ,Poland
DATE OF DEATH=February 22 ,1951
PLACE OF DEATH=Zalesie ,Poland
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