Frederic Kipping facts for kids

Frederic Stanley Kipping was an important English chemist. He was born on August 16, 1863, and passed away on May 1, 1949. Kipping did a lot of early work on materials made from silicon. He even created the word "silicone" for these special substances. His discoveries helped create many products we use today.

Life of Frederic Kipping

Frederic Kipping was born in Salford, Lancashire, England. His father, James Kipping, worked for the Bank of England. His mother, Julia Du Val, was the daughter of a painter.

Early Education and Studies

Frederic went to Manchester Grammar School. In 1879, he started studying at Owens College. This college is now known as Manchester University. He earned a degree from the University of London. After working for a gas company for a short time, he went to Germany in 1886. There, he studied under a famous chemist named William Henry Perkin, Jr.. They worked in the labs of Adolf von Baeyer at Munich University.

Career as a Chemist

When Kipping returned to England, he became a demonstrator for Perkin. Perkin had become a professor at Heriot-Watt College in Edinburgh. In 1890, Kipping got a new job in London. He became the chief demonstrator in chemistry for the City and Guilds of London Institute. He worked with another chemist, Henry Edward Armstrong, there.

In 1897, Kipping moved to University College, Nottingham. He became a professor in the chemistry department. Later, in 1928, he became the first Sir Jesse Boot professor of chemistry. He stayed at Nottingham until he retired in 1936.

Amazing Achievements in Chemistry

Frederic Kipping did groundbreaking work on silicon polymers at Nottingham. These special materials are now known as silicones. He was a pioneer in studying the organic compounds of silicon. These are called organosilicon compounds. Kipping was the first to use the word "silicone".

Impact of His Research

His research created the foundation for many industries around the world. These include the synthetic rubber industry and companies that make silicone-based lubricants. You can find silicones in many products, from sealants to medical devices.

Books and Awards

Kipping also helped write an important textbook. It was called Organic Chemistry and was published in 1894. He wrote it with William Henry Perkin, Jr.

He received several important awards for his work:

• In 1909, he won the Longstaff Medal. This award is now called the Longstaff Prize. It was given by the Chemistry Society, which is now the Royal Society of Chemistry.
• In June 1897, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists.
• The Royal Society gave him their Davy Medal in 1918.
• He gave a special talk called the Bakerian Lecture in 1936. He also received a Royal Society Bakerian Medal that same year.

In 2004, Kipping was recognized for his contributions to rubber science. He was added to the University of Akron's International Rubber Science Hall of Fame.

Family Life

Frederic Kipping retired in 1936. He passed away in Criccieth, Wales. In 1888, he married Lilian Holland. Lilian had two sisters who were also married to famous scientists: Arthur Lapworth and William Henry Perkin, Jr..

Frederic and Lilian had four children. One of their sons, Cyril Henry Stanley, became a well-known chess player. He was also a headmaster of a school. Another son, Frederick Barry, was also a chemist. He later helped update his father's Organic Chemistry textbook.

See also