Rudolph A. Marcus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rudolph A. Marcus
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Marcus in 2005
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| Born |
Rudolph Arthur Marcus
July 21, 1923 |
| Nationality | |
| Education | McGill University (BSc, PhD) |
| Known for | Marcus theory RRKM theory |
| Spouse(s) |
Laura Hearne
(m. 1949; died 2003) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Institutions |
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| Thesis | Studies on the conversion of PHX to AcAn (1946) |
| Doctoral advisor | Carl A. Winkler |
| Doctoral students | Gregory A. Voth |
| Other notable students | Postdocs:
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Rudolph Arthur Marcus (born July 21, 1923) is a Canadian-born American chemist. He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1992. He received this award for his important ideas about how electron transfer reactions work in chemical systems.
The Marcus theory, named after him, helps explain how electrons move from one atom or molecule to another. This theory uses ideas from thermodynamics (the study of heat and energy) and kinetics (the study of reaction rates). Rudolph Marcus is a professor at Caltech and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He is also a member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science.
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Early Life and School
Rudolph Marcus was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His parents were Esther and Myer Marcus. His family came from Ukmergė in Lithuania. He grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Montreal. He also spent some time in Detroit, United States, when he was a child.
Marcus became interested in science when he was young. He was very good at math at Baron Byng High School. He then went to McGill University. There, he studied with Carl A. Winkler. Marcus took many math classes, which helped him later with his electron transfer theory.
He earned his first degree, a B.Sc., in 1943. He then got his advanced degree, a Ph.D., in 1946. Both degrees were from McGill University. In 1958, he became a citizen of the United States.
Career and Discoveries
After finishing his studies in 1946, Marcus worked at the National Research Council (Canada). Then he worked at the University of North Carolina. His first job as a professor was at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.
In 1952, while at the University of North Carolina, he helped create the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory. This theory helps explain how molecules break apart or change during chemical reactions. In 1964, he taught at the University of Illinois. Marcus is known for tackling problems head-on. In 1978, he moved to the California Institute of Technology.
Marcus Theory: How Electrons Move
Electron transfer is a very basic type of chemical reaction. It involves one electron moving from one substance to another. For example, Marcus studied how electrons move between different forms of iron ions.
Even though it seems simple, electron transfer is vital for life. It happens in our bodies when we breathe (in respiration). It also happens when plants make food using sunlight (in photosynthesis). When our bodies use food for energy, hydrogen ions, electrons, and oxygen react to make water and heat. This is an exothermic reaction, meaning it releases energy.
- 2 H+ + 2 e− + ½ O2 → H2O + heat
Because electron transfer is so common and important in nature, Marcus's theory is very useful in chemistry and biochemistry.
One type of reaction Marcus studied was the transfer of an electron between metal ions. For example, he looked at how an electron moves between a divalent (two positive charges) and a trivalent (three positive charges) iron ion in water. In the 1950s, chemists were puzzled by how slowly this reaction happened. This mystery made Marcus interested in electron transfer.
He studied these reactions and developed his electron transfer theory. His ideas led to new experiments that helped many areas of chemistry and biochemistry. Even after his 100th birthday, he is still actively doing research!
Awards and Recognition
Rudolph Marcus has received many awards and honors. He has been given honorary degrees from many universities around the world. These include the University of Chicago (1983), McGill University (1988), the University of Oxford (1995), and Nanyang Technological University (2010).
Before winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1992, he received many other important awards. These include the Irving Langmuir Prize in Chemical Physics (1978), the Wolf Prize in Chemistry (1984-1985), and the National Medal of Science (1989). He also received the Pauling Medal in 1991.
He was elected to important scientific groups. These include the National Academy of Sciences (1970) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1973). He also became an honorary member of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 1991 and the Royal Society of Canada in 1993. In 1987, he was chosen as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society.
In 2019, he received the Fray International Sustainability award.
See also
In Spanish: Rudolph Marcus para niños
- Henry Taube, another Nobel Prize winner who studied electron transfer reactions.
- List of Jewish Nobel laureates
