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Thomas Graham (chemist)




Thomas Graham ( December 21 , 1805September 16 , 1869 ) was born in Glasgow , Scotland . Graham's father was a successful Textile Manufacturer , and wished for his son to enter into the Church Of Scotland . Instead, defying his father's wishes, Graham became a student at the University Of Glasgow in 1819 . Here, he developed a strong interest in Chemistry , and left the University after receiving his M.A. in 1826 . He later became a Professor of chemistry at numerous colleges, including the Royal College Of Science And Technology and the University Of London . Graham also founded the Chemical Society Of London in 1841 . Graham's final post was that known as the Master Of The Mint , where he stayed for 15 years until his death.


CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY

Graham's two most known contributions are his studies on the Diffusion of gases, known as " Graham's Law ". His discovery of the medical method known as Dialysis , which is used in many medical faculties today, was the result of some of Graham's study of Colloids . This study resulted in his ability to separate colloids and crystalloids using a so-called "dialyzer", the Precursor of today's Dialysis machine. This study of colloids initiated the scientific branch of research known as Colloidal Chemistry , of which Graham is credited as the founder.

Graham's Law states:
"The rate of effusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its mass."


HONOURS AWARDED

  • Royal Medal of the Royal Society (Given in 1837)

  • Copley Medal of the Royal Society (Given in 1862)

  • Prix Jecker of the Paris Academy of Sciences (Given in 1862)

  • Royal Medal of the Royal Society (Given again in 1863)

  • (Unofficial Honour) A statue of Graham given to Glasgow for his works ("Given" in 1872)



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