John Knox (chemist) facts for kids

John Henderson Knox (1927 – 2018) was a brilliant scientist. He was a professor at the University of Edinburgh. John Knox made important discoveries in chemistry. He helped us understand how chemicals react. He also improved ways to separate different substances.

Discovering New Ways to Separate Chemicals

John Knox was a pioneer in a science called chromatography. This is a way to separate different parts of a mixture.

Gas Chromatography

When he was a student in 1953, John Knox built a special machine. He built it with his friend Howard Purnell at Cambridge University. This machine was a gas chromatograph. They used it to study how gases behave.

Later, John Knox used this machine for something new. He measured how fast chemical reactions happen in gases. This helped scientists understand things like burning (combustion). It also helped with reactions involving chlorine.

Liquid Chromatography

In 1964, John Knox learned about another type of chromatography. This was called liquid chromatography. In 1969, he wrote an important paper. He suggested using tiny particles to make liquid chromatography faster.

In the 1970s, John Knox and his team invented new materials. These materials were used inside the chromatography machines. They are now called Hypersil. He also created a material called Hypercarb. These inventions helped the chemical industry.

John Knox also developed a famous formula. It is called the Knox Equation. This equation helps explain how substances spread out in liquid chromatography.

Awards and Recognition

John Knox was recognized for his amazing work. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1971. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1984. These are very high honors for scientists.

In 2000, he received the Golay Medal. Since 2008, the Royal Society of Chemistry gives out the Knox Award. This award honors people who do important work in separation science.

Contributions to Yachting

After retiring, John Knox followed another passion. He loved yachting. He used his science skills to make anchoring safer.

The Anchorwatch

He invented a device called the Anchorwatch. This device measures how much force is on an anchor chain. If a storm hits, it warns the crew. This helps prevent the anchor from slipping.

John Knox used the Anchorwatch to test anchors. He spent years experimenting on beaches in Scotland. He measured how well different anchor designs held in the ground.

The Knox Anchor

His research led him to design his own anchor. It is called the Knox Anchor. This anchor is now made and sold in the UK. It is known for being very strong and reliable.

Personal Life

John Knox was married to his wife Josephine for 60 years. They celebrated this milestone in March 2017.

He passed away on October 15, 2018, in Edinburgh. He was 90 years old. He is remembered by his wife, four sons, twelve grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.