Lars Onsager (1903–1976), Chemist-Physicist, on the Silver Anniversary of His Death

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 6 Issue 4 (2001) pp 255-260

Lars Onsager (1903–1976), Chemist-Physicist, on the Silver Anniversary of His Death

George B. Kauffman

Department of Chemistry, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA 93740-8034

Published online: 27 July 2001

Abstract. The Norwegian-born theoretical chemist–physicist Lars Onsager (1903–1976) received the 1968 Nobel Prize for Chemistry “for the discovery of the reciprocal relations bearing his name, which are fundamental for the thermodynamics of irreversible processes.” A recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, which he did not receive until relatively late in life, he taught at the Johns Hopkins and Brown u,niversities, but spent most of his academic career at Yale University (1933–1972). He spent his post-retirement years (1972–1976) as Distinguished University Professor at the University of Miami’s Center for Theoretical Studies, where he continued his work with several postdoctoral research fellows.

Key Words: Chemistry and History; Nobel Prize; thermodynamics

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: georgek@csufresno.edu)

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