Marcel Pourbaix

Marcel Pourbaix
Born	16 September 1904(1904-09-16) Myshega, Tula Oblast, Russia
Died	28 September 1998(1998-09-28) (aged 94) Uccle, Brussels, Belgium
Nationality	Belgian
Fields	Electrochemistry
Institutions	Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Alma mater	Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Known for	Pourbaix diagrams

Marcel Pourbaix was born on 16 September 1904 in Myshega (Aleksin District, Tula Oblast, Russia, 54°31′N 37°2′E / 54.517°N 37.033°E / 54.517; 37.033), where his father was a consultant on an engineering project. A brilliant chemist, he performed his most well known research at the University of Brussels, studying corrosion. His biggest achievement is the derivation of potential-pH, better known as “Pourbaix Diagrams”. Pourbaix Diagrams are thermodynamic charts constructed using the Nernst equation and visualize the relationship between possible phases of a system, bounded by lines representing the reactions that transport between them. They can be read much like a phase diagram.

In 1963, Pourbaix produced "Atlas of Electrochemical Equilibria", which contains potential-pH diagrams for all elements known at the time. Pourbaix and his collaborators began preparing the work in the early 1950s.

Marcel Pourbaix was not only a scientist, but also a skilled pianist.

References

• Pourbaix, M., Atlas of electrochemical equilibria in aqueous solutions. 2d English ed. 1974, Houston, Tex.: National Association of Corrosion Engineers.

External links

• Marcel Pourbaix (1904–1998)

Persondata
Name	Pourbaix, Marcel
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	19 September 1904
Place of birth	Myshega, Tula Oblast, Russia
Date of death	28 September 1998
Place of death	Uccle, Brussels, Belgium