Ralph Raphael facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph Raphael
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| Born |
Ralph Alexander Raphael
1 January 1921 |
| Died | 27 April 1998 (aged 77) Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Imperial College |
| Known for | Acetylene chemistry, Organic synthesis |
| Spouse(s) | Prudence Maguerire Anne née Gaffikin |
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| Thesis | (1943) |
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Ralph Alexander Raphael (1 January 1921 – 27 April 1998) was a famous British organic chemist. He was well known for using special carbon compounds called acetylenes to create natural products. These natural products are chemicals found in nature that can have important biological effects.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ralph Raphael was born in Croydon, London, England, on New Year's Day in 1921. His father, Jacob Raphael, was a tailor. Ralph went to secondary school at Wesley College, Dublin and then Tottenham County School. There, a chemistry teacher named Edgar Ware sparked his lifelong interest in chemistry.
In 1939, Ralph won scholarships to study at Imperial College in London. He earned his first degree in 1941 and won an award for his practical chemistry skills. During World War II, university courses were shorter. Ralph finished his PhD in just two years, by 1943. His PhD work focused on making vitamin A. This research involved acetylene chemistry, which became a key part of his future scientific work.
Career Highlights
After getting his PhD, Ralph Raphael worked on the antibiotic penicillin from 1943 to 1946. This was part of the wartime effort. After the war, he received a special fellowship that allowed him to return to Imperial College. There, he did his own research.
One of his early achievements was making penicillic acid. He also worked with Franz Sondheimer on natural products. This included studying an insecticide from a plant called Zanthoxylum clava-herculis. For this important work, he received the Meldola Medal in 1948.
In 1949, Ralph became a lecturer at Glasgow University. He was a very hard worker and helped write nine chapters for a classic chemistry textbook. In 1954, he became the first Professor of Organic Chemistry at Queen's University, Belfast. While there, he wrote an important book about acetylene chemistry.
Ralph returned to the University of Glasgow in 1957 as a top chemistry professor. In 1960, he finished writing a textbook for university students, which was updated many times. In 1972, he moved to Cambridge University to lead the Department of Organic, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry. He also became a Fellow at Christ's College, Cambridge. He retired in 1988 but continued to be honored for his great service.
Teaching and Research
Even though Professor Raphael had a slight stammer, he was an amazing teacher. He made his lectures exciting by sharing the newest information in organic chemistry. He knew a lot about current scientific discoveries. He also had a great sense of humor. One time, he gave a funny fake lecture about making catenanes, which are special ring-shaped molecules.
Ralph Raphael and his research team published over 150 scientific articles. These articles were peer-reviewed, meaning other experts checked them to make sure the science was good. His research was supported by grants from organizations like the Science and Engineering Research Council and companies like Glaxo Smith Kline. He also advised several companies, which led to new patents for his discoveries.
Making Natural Products
Ralph Raphael studied many natural products, especially those with biological effects. He liked to choose challenging molecules that a single PhD student could try to make. He and his students successfully created many complex natural products in the lab. Some examples include:
- 2-deoxyribose (a sugar found in DNA)
- arachidonic acid (important for the body)
- chrysanthemic acid (found in chrysanthemums)
- pseudomonic acid (used in medicine)
- shikimic acid (a key chemical in plants)
Raphael also studied the waxy coating on plant leaves. He described the hydrocarbons that make up this coating. In another interesting project, he worked with David Rubio to study the wood used in Stradivarius violins. They found out what substances were used to treat the wood. They even showed that similar substances could make modern instruments sound better!
Molecules of Theoretical Interest
Ralph Raphael was also interested in molecules that were important for understanding chemistry, not just for practical uses. In 1951, he worked with J. W. Cook and A. I. Scott to create tropolone. This was the first time this special "quasi-aromatic" compound was made in a lab. He also studied macrocyclic compounds, which are large ring-shaped molecules containing acetylenes.
Awards and Service
Ralph Raphael received many honors for his contributions to science.
- In 1958, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
- In 1962, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, which is a very high honor for scientists.
- He received the Davy Medal in 1981.
- He was made a CBE in 1982, a special award from the British government.
He also received honorary degrees from several universities, including Imperial College and Queen's University Belfast. He served on many important scientific committees and was the Vice-President of the Chemical Society in London.
Some of his other awards and roles included:
- Meldola Medal and Prize (1948)
- Tilden Medal (1960)
- Vice-President of the Chemical Society, London (1967-1970)
- Member of the Council of the Royal Society (1975-1977)
- President of the Perkin Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry (1979-1981)
- Honorary membership of the Royal Irish Academy (1987)
Personal Life
In 1944, Ralph Raphael married Prudence Maguerire Anne Gaffikin. She was a professional violin and viola player. They had a son, Tony, and a daughter, Sonia. Later, they had two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Ralph Raphael loved art and music. He became a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the National Gallery in 1986. His favorite hobby was playing contract bridge. Ralph Raphael passed away in Cambridge on 27 April 1998, from heart disease.
