Jack Linnett facts for kids

John Wilfrid Linnett (born August 3, 1913 – died November 7, 1975) was an important British chemist. He was also a leader at the University of Cambridge, serving as its Vice-Chancellor from 1973 to 1975. For many years, he was a Fellow at The Queen's College, Oxford, and taught Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford.

Early Life and Education

John Linnett was born in Coventry, England, on August 3, 1913. He went to King Henry VIII School. Later, he studied at St John's College at the University of Oxford. He even became a Junior Fellow there, which means he was a young researcher and teacher.

A Career in Chemistry

In 1965, John Linnett became a Professor of Physical Chemistry at Cambridge University. He also held important positions, like being the Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He was part of the Council of the Royal Society, a famous scientific group. He also led the Faraday Society, which focuses on physical chemistry.

Throughout his time as a chemist, Linnett was interested in many different areas. He made big contributions to theoretical chemistry, which uses math to understand how chemicals work. He also studied mass spectrometry, which helps identify molecules. His work included understanding explosions, how atoms combine, and how things burn.

Linnett's Double-Quartet Theory

One of John Linnett's most famous ideas came in 1960. He changed the way we think about the octet rule. This rule, first suggested by Gilbert N. Lewis, explains how valence electrons (the electrons in the outer shell of an atom) behave.

Linnett suggested that the "octet" (which means eight electrons) should be seen as two groups of four electrons, not just four pairs. He called this the "Linnett double-quartet theory". This new way of looking at electrons helped explain why some molecules with an odd number of electrons, like nitric oxide and oxygen, are stable.

He wrote about this theory in his book, "The Electronic Structure of Molecules: A New Approach," published in 1964. He also wrote another general book called "Wave Mechanics and Valency" in 1960.

Later Life and Legacy

John Linnett passed away on November 7, 1975, from a heart attack. This happened only five weeks after he finished his role as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

To honor his memory, the University of Cambridge created the John Wilfrid Linnett Visiting Professor of Chemistry position in 1993. This allows other important chemists to visit and share their knowledge.