Mallory James
Lynette Burdick
CHM 130
11 November 2015
Fritz Haber: For Better and For Worse Fritz Haber, a scientist not well-known to many, has played an immense role for our world today. This paper will describe him, his contributions to the chemistry field, the hardships he had to go through during his career as a chemist and the contradictions of his inventions. Fritz Haber was born into one of the oldest families of Breslau, Germany (now part of Poland) on December 9, 1868. Sadly, his mother died abruptly after childbirth. He was raised by his Jewish father, Siegfried Haber, a chemical merchant in Breslau. Haber went to school at St. Elizabeth classical school, where he did numerous chemical experiments (nobleprize.org). Haber eventually …show more content…
He ended up staying there for a year taking up a scientific career, working with Ludwig Knorr (Britannica encyclopedia 601). James 2
Haber had a difficult time deciding whether to focus on physics or chemistry, until he was offered a chemistry assistantship at Karlsruhe, Germany (located across the Rhine River from France), by Hans Bunte, the professor of physical chemistry. While in Karlsruhe, Haber was introduced to petroleum by Carl Engler and combustion chemistry by Bunte. Haber’s work was vastly influenced by both men. He remained at Karlsruhe until 1911, becoming the director of chemistry studies at the university there (nobelpize.org). Haber’s most vital accomplishment was the invention on how to create ammonia from gases in the air. This accomplishment won him the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1918. This invention was in fact, a breakthrough (wipo.int). Ammonia, which consists of nitrogen and hydrogen, is used as an explosive and as a fertilizer. In the late 1800s, most of the world’s nitrogen was mined and exported from the county of Chile. This sole source of fertilizer was a concern to many political leaders. Also, Chile couldn’t keep up with worldwide demand …show more content…
Among other things, he developed ways to release poisonous gases to kill Allied troops and became the “Father of Chemical Warfare”. After directing the release of gases killing 10,000 Allied soldiers, his first wife committed suicide (scienceheros.com). Further, the Haber-Bosch process helped Germany manufacture many ammunitions, as ammonia can be used in explosives. Following the war, Germany owed a great deal of money to world powers. Haber’s dedication to Germany resulted in his efforts to try to produce gold from seawater. This effort failed (nobelprize.org).
In 1933 with the rise of Hitler and persecution of the Jews, Haber’s family was kicked out of Germany. His loyalty to his native Germany may have saved his life, as he was allowed to migrate to England with his second wife and their children. He was saddened that the country he had served for so long had rejected him. In 1935, Haber died of heart failure while moving from England to Switzerland with his family (scieneceheros.com).
James 4
Although Haber’s inventions resulted in the death of millions, they helped save the lives of millions as well. His contributions were for better and for worse. Also, his life ended in sorrow, because he was rejected by the country he worked hard to support. Despite everything,
His life’s work did make it possible for the world’s food supply to keep up with a growing
Lynette Burdick
CHM 130
11 November 2015
Fritz Haber: For Better and For Worse Fritz Haber, a scientist not well-known to many, has played an immense role for our world today. This paper will describe him, his contributions to the chemistry field, the hardships he had to go through during his career as a chemist and the contradictions of his inventions. Fritz Haber was born into one of the oldest families of Breslau, Germany (now part of Poland) on December 9, 1868. Sadly, his mother died abruptly after childbirth. He was raised by his Jewish father, Siegfried Haber, a chemical merchant in Breslau. Haber went to school at St. Elizabeth classical school, where he did numerous chemical experiments (nobleprize.org). Haber eventually …show more content…
He ended up staying there for a year taking up a scientific career, working with Ludwig Knorr (Britannica encyclopedia 601). James 2
Haber had a difficult time deciding whether to focus on physics or chemistry, until he was offered a chemistry assistantship at Karlsruhe, Germany (located across the Rhine River from France), by Hans Bunte, the professor of physical chemistry. While in Karlsruhe, Haber was introduced to petroleum by Carl Engler and combustion chemistry by Bunte. Haber’s work was vastly influenced by both men. He remained at Karlsruhe until 1911, becoming the director of chemistry studies at the university there (nobelpize.org). Haber’s most vital accomplishment was the invention on how to create ammonia from gases in the air. This accomplishment won him the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1918. This invention was in fact, a breakthrough (wipo.int). Ammonia, which consists of nitrogen and hydrogen, is used as an explosive and as a fertilizer. In the late 1800s, most of the world’s nitrogen was mined and exported from the county of Chile. This sole source of fertilizer was a concern to many political leaders. Also, Chile couldn’t keep up with worldwide demand …show more content…
Among other things, he developed ways to release poisonous gases to kill Allied troops and became the “Father of Chemical Warfare”. After directing the release of gases killing 10,000 Allied soldiers, his first wife committed suicide (scienceheros.com). Further, the Haber-Bosch process helped Germany manufacture many ammunitions, as ammonia can be used in explosives. Following the war, Germany owed a great deal of money to world powers. Haber’s dedication to Germany resulted in his efforts to try to produce gold from seawater. This effort failed (nobelprize.org).
In 1933 with the rise of Hitler and persecution of the Jews, Haber’s family was kicked out of Germany. His loyalty to his native Germany may have saved his life, as he was allowed to migrate to England with his second wife and their children. He was saddened that the country he had served for so long had rejected him. In 1935, Haber died of heart failure while moving from England to Switzerland with his family (scieneceheros.com).
James 4
Although Haber’s inventions resulted in the death of millions, they helped save the lives of millions as well. His contributions were for better and for worse. Also, his life ended in sorrow, because he was rejected by the country he worked hard to support. Despite everything,
His life’s work did make it possible for the world’s food supply to keep up with a growing