2007-9-19

No absolute truth can be obtained in science or philosophy since thinking,researches and discoveries are endless. We can say, with deep sincerity and admiration,that Ostwald has done lasting and brave struggles for great cause.
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A German chemist,Wilhelm Ostwald was born on September 2,1853,in Riga,Latvia, and died at his country home near Leipzig on April 4,1932. In 1872, he was admitted to Dorpat University to read chemistry,and received his doctor's degree in chemistry in 1878. After his appointment of full time Professor of Chemistry at the Polytechnicum in 1881 in Riga,he accepted an invitation as Professor of Physical Chemistry at Leipzig University six years later. In 1898,He was also in charge of the organization of the Department of Physical Chemistry at Leipzig University,and retired in 1906.

Ostwald was one of the founders of classical physical chemistry,with special emphasis on electrochemistry and chemical dynamics. In chemical dynamics,he researched on the distribution of one-base in two-acid by measurement and refraction rate in 1878. In 1887,he measured the change of volume of dilute solution in acid and base. The next year, he put forward Ostwald Dilution Law, making himself the first to use Mass Action Law in ionization,which was of great significance in history. In catalysis,he gave definitions to catalysis and catalyst in 1894, and pointed out in 1902 that catalyst could only change the reaction rate instead of chemical balance. In 1902,he created a method to produce nitrate from ammonia by catalysis and oxidation,later called Ostwald Method. Besides,he also proposed Ostwald Indicator Theory in 1894,giving a scientific standardization for colors of acid and base indicators. In the same year, he suggested to take the reaction of analytical chemistry as mutual function of ions. He also corrected his former wrong ideas about energetics later.

In 1909 Ostwald was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his work on catalysis, chemical equilibria and reaction velocities. He established Physical Chemistry Magazine in 1887 with J.H. van't Hoff. Besides,He published numerous textbooks,starting with the Textbook of General Chemistry,Analytical Chemistry,Electrochemistry.

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A famous chemist and confused philosopher.

Ostwald was the earliest supporter for the ion theory. Arrhenius, van't Hoff and he were founders of modern physical chemistry. Acid and base indicator theory based on ion dilution theory proposed by Ostwald is still adopted in today's textbooks. He also researched on catalysis,produced ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen at high temperature by catalyst,and changed ammonia and oxygen into nitrate,all of which were extraordinary achievements at that time. Therefore,he was given the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1909. He can really be a famous chemist.

Though well-known, Ostwald still persisted in things in his own old ways,and he was struck by idealism. He didn't believe in atomism,supposing that energy was the nature of all materials, and substance was just the collection of the space of all energies. He preached energetics and delivered speeches and wrote articles. His idea was criticized by many famous scientists. He delivered a speech named Overcome Scientific Materialism at a conference with many natural scientists,and he was opposed by famous scientist Planck Boltzmann at once. It was also believed by the Leipzig University where he worked that he had paid too much time and energy to other aspects. The university let him do final decision whether his interest lied in chemistry or philosophy. In this way,he hardly worked at the university. But he quitted for the work he was interested in. In the summer of 1906,53-year-old Ostwald retired in advance,and hid in villages,still supportive to energetics yet. Many examples were cited in Lening's Materialism and Empiriocriticism to describe the fault of his theory. It was said by Lening that he was a famous chemist and confused philosopher.