Fred McLafferty facts for kids

Fred Warren McLafferty (born May 11, 1923 – died December 26, 2021) was a very important American chemist. He is famous for his work with something called mass spectrometry. This is a powerful tool that helps scientists figure out what different chemicals are made of.

Dr. McLafferty is best known for discovering a special chemical reaction called the McLafferty rearrangement. He also helped create a new way to analyze chemicals by combining two techniques: gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. This new method is called gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). He also worked on a method called electron-capture dissociation, which helps break apart molecules to study them better.

Early Life and Education

Fred McLafferty was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1923. He grew up and went to grade school in Omaha, Nebraska. He finished high school in 1940.

Because of World War II, he finished his college studies quickly at the University of Nebraska. He earned his first degree (B.S.) in 1943. After that, he joined the U.S. armed forces. He served in Europe during the war and was recognized for his bravery. He received several awards, including the Purple Heart.

After the war, he returned to the University of Nebraska. He earned his master's degree (M.S.) in 1947. Then, he went to Cornell University and earned his Ph.D. in 1950. He also did more research at the University of Iowa.

Working at Dow Chemical

In 1950, Fred McLafferty started working at a company called Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan. He was in charge of their mass spectrometry and gas chromatography work. This was from 1950 to 1956.

During his time at Dow Chemical, he helped create the very first GC/MS instruments. These machines were a huge step forward for chemistry. He also developed new ways to figure out the structure of organic molecules using mass spectrometry. This is where he discovered the special chemical reaction now known as the McLafferty rearrangement. This discovery was a big deal for understanding how molecules break apart.

Academic Career and Discoveries

In 1964, Dr. McLafferty became a Chemistry Professor at Purdue University. He taught there until 1968. Then, he returned to Cornell University, where he had earned his Ph.D. He became a special professor there.

In 1982, he was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Sciences. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United States.

While at Cornell, Dr. McLafferty did more amazing work. He put together one of the first big collections of mass spectra data. This data helps scientists identify unknown chemicals. He also used artificial intelligence (AI) to help interpret the results from GC/MS machines. His computer program, called PBM STIRS, saved scientists many hours of work. It helped them quickly understand what chemicals they were looking at.

Later Life and Legacy

Fred McLafferty passed away in Ithaca, New York, on December 26, 2021. He was 98 years old. His work in mass spectrometry changed how chemists study molecules. His discoveries continue to help scientists today in many fields, from medicine to environmental science.

Honors and Awards

Fred McLafferty received many awards and honors throughout his career for his important contributions to chemistry. Some of these include:

• 1971 ACS Award in Chemical Instrumentation
• 1981 ACS Award in Analytical Chemistry
• 1984 William H. Nichols Medal
• 1985 Oesper Award
• 1985 J. J. Thomson Gold Medal
• 2003 John B. Fenn Distinguished Contribution in Mass Spectrometry
• 2004 Lavoisier Medal
• 2019 The American Chemical Society recognized the first working GC-MS demonstration by Fred McLafferty as a National Historic Chemical Landmark.