Irving Langmuir

Date of Birth: January 31, 1881

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: August 16, 1957

Biography

Irving Langmuir was an American chemist and physicist, born on January 31, 1881, in Brooklyn, New York. He is renowned for his work in surface chemistry and his contributions to the development of the field of chemical engineering. Langmuir earned his BS in metallurgical engineering from Columbia University and later his PhD in chemistry from Göttingen University in Germany. Langmuir joined the General Electric Company in 1909, where he conducted significant research. His work on atomic hydrogen led to the development of the gas-filled tungsten lamp, which greatly improved the efficiency of light bulbs. He also made pioneering contributions to the understanding of thin films and surface adsorption, leading to the formulation of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Langmuir’s contributions to science were recognized with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1932 for his discoveries and investigations in surface chemistry. He was also an advocate for the scientific method and the application of science to practical problems, such as weather modification through cloud seeding. Langmuir passed away on August 16, 1957, in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

5 Interesting Facts about Irving Langmuir

1. Irving Langmuir is credited with coining the term “plasma” to describe ionized gases.

2. He developed the concept of “Langmuir waves” in plasma physics.

3. Langmuir was awarded the Perkin Medal in 1928 for his outstanding contributions to applied chemistry.

4. He worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II, contributing to the development of atomic bombs.

5. Langmuir’s research on cloud seeding helped lay the groundwork for modern weather modification techniques.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Irving Langmuir

1. “The scientist is motivated primarily by curiosity and a desire for truth.”

2. “It is a great advantage to be able to cut from one’s writing any sentence that fails to add to the thought.”

3. “Science is fundamentally a moral enterprise.”

4. “The role of the scientist is to discover new knowledge and to communicate that knowledge to others.”

5. “A chemist who is not a physicist is nothing at all.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Irving Langmuir’s highest net worth is not documented, but his contributions to science and technology were invaluable and had a significant impact on various industries.