Edward Frankland Armstrong facts for kids
Edward Frankland Armstrong (born September 5, 1878 – died December 14, 1945) was an English chemist. He studied important things like carbohydrates (sugars), how chemical reactions speed up (catalysis), and how chemistry could be used in factories. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a big honor for scientists!
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Early Life and Education
Edward Armstrong was born in Lewisham, London. His father, H. E. Armstrong, was also a famous chemistry professor. Edward got interested in chemistry very early on because of his dad.
He traveled to Germany to study organic chemistry. In 1898, he learned from L. Claisen in Kiel. Then, he spent two years in Berlin with J. van't Hoff. After earning his PhD in 1901, he worked with Emil Fischer, another famous chemist, and became very interested in the chemistry of carbohydrates.
Working as a Chemist
After his studies, Edward Armstrong came back to England. In 1905, he earned a DSc degree for his work on carbohydrates.
Chemistry in Industry
Edward Armstrong used his chemistry skills in many different jobs.
- He worked as a chemist for Huntley and Palmer, a company that made biscuits. Imagine using chemistry to make delicious cookies!
- He also researched special sugar compounds called glycosides with his father and Frederick Keeble.
- In 1914, he joined Joseph Crosfield & Sons, a company that made soap and other chemicals. Here, he worked on catalysis, which is about making chemical reactions happen faster and more efficiently.
- During World War I, he helped supply important chemicals like acetic acid and acetone, which were needed for the war effort.
Leadership in Chemistry
Edward Armstrong was recognized for his important work. In 1920, he was elected to the Royal Society, a group of the most important scientists in the UK.
In 1925, he became a director at the British Dyestuffs Corporation. This company later became part of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), a very large chemical company. From 1928, he worked as a consultant, giving advice to many different industries about chemistry. In 1935, he led the Association of British Chemical Manufacturers. During World War II, he also advised the government on how to protect people from air raids.
Family Life
Edward Armstrong married Ethel Mary Turpin in 1907. They had three sons and one daughter. Sadly, his second son, Kenneth Frankland, who was also a chemist, died young in an avalanche while skiing.
Edward Armstrong passed away in 1945 after complications from an appendicitis surgery. He was known for being a great writer, even if he wasn't the best speaker. He wrote several books, including:
- The Simple Carbohydrates and Glucosides (1910)
- Chemistry in the Twentieth Century (1924)
- The Sea as a Storehouse (1944)
- Raw Materials from the Sea (1945)
He also co-wrote The Glycosides (1931).
