Peter Day (chemist) facts for kids

Peter Day (born August 20, 1938 – died May 19, 2020) was a famous British chemist. He was a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford University and later at University College London (UCL). He made big discoveries in how different materials behave.

Early Life and School

Peter Day was born in Wrotham, Kent, England, on August 20, 1938. He went to Maidstone Grammar School. Later, he studied at Wadham College, Oxford. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts, in 1961. In 1965, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree. His research was guided by a scientist named Robert Williams.

Amazing Discoveries in Chemistry

Peter Day was a leader in a field called materials chemistry. This is where scientists look for special features in materials. He studied compounds made of inorganic substances and metal-organic parts. He wanted to understand why these materials acted in unusual ways.

Understanding Mixed-Valence Chemistry

He played a key role in developing "mixed-valence chemistry." This is a complex area where atoms in a material can have different electrical charges. Peter Day did important experiments and created theories. These helped explain the light, magnetic, and electrical properties of solid materials.

Seeing the Unseen

When he was a young researcher, he was the first to explain the colors of vitamin B12. He also made it easier to understand how inorganic materials absorb light. He found connections between the structure of metal chain compounds and their physical properties. He even discovered the first materials that were both clear and magnetic! He used special methods like neutron scattering to do this. He also studied and organized information about how "metamagnets" react to light.

The Robin-Day Classification

Peter Day's work as a graduate student started the study of mixed-valence compounds. This led to something called the Robin-Day Classification. This system helps scientists sort and understand these special materials.

In 2012, he wrote a book about his life and work in science.

Personal Life

Peter Day was married to Frances, who passed away in 2018. They had two children, Alison and Christopher. He also had five grandchildren. Peter Day died at his home in Marsh Baldon, Oxfordshire, on May 19, 2020. He was 81 years old.

Awards and Special Honors

Peter Day received many awards for his work. He got honors from the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry. The Royal Society of Chemistry even named one of its awards after him!

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1986. This is a very high honor for a scientist. From 1991 to 1998, he was the Director of the Royal Institution. He also led the Royal Institution's Davy-Faraday Research Laboratory. He was also a Fullerian Professor of Chemistry.

In 2003, he became an honorary fellow of Wadham College, Oxford. He was also a Fellow of the Institute of Physics.