Cyril Norman Hinshelwood

Cyril Norman Hinshelwood
Born	19 June 1897 London, England
Died	9 October 1967 Oxford, England
Nationality	British
Alma mater	University of Oxford
Known for	Chemical kinetics
Awards	Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1956)
Scientific career
Fields	Physical Chemistry
Institutions	University of Oxford

Cyril Norman Hinshelwood (19 June 1897 – 9 October 1967) was a British physical chemist renowned for his work on chemical kinetics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1956, which he shared with Nikolay Semyonov, for their researches into the mechanism of chemical reactions.

Early Life and Education

Cyril Hinshelwood was born in London, England. He attended Westminster City School and later went on to study at Balliol College, Oxford, where he developed a keen interest in chemistry. His early academic career was interrupted by World War I, during which he worked on explosives research.

Academic Career

After the war, Hinshelwood returned to Oxford, where he completed his studies and began his academic career. He was appointed a Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford in 1921 and later became a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford.

Hinshelwood's research focused on the kinetics of chemical reactions, particularly the mechanisms by which reactions occur. His work laid the foundation for much of modern chemical kinetics and influenced a wide range of fields, from industrial chemistry to biology.

Research Contributions

Hinshelwood's most significant contributions were in the field of chemical kinetics. He studied the rates of chemical reactions and the factors that affect these rates. His work on chain reactions and the theory of reaction mechanisms was groundbreaking.

One of his notable achievements was the study of the kinetics of bacterial cell growth, which provided insights into the nature of biological processes and the action of antibiotics. This work was particularly influential in the development of antibiotics and understanding bacterial resistance.

Nobel Prize

In 1956, Hinshelwood was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Nikolay Semyonov for their research on the mechanisms of chemical reactions. Their work provided a deeper understanding of how chemical reactions proceed and the factors that influence them.

Legacy

Hinshelwood's contributions to chemistry have had a lasting impact on the field. His work on chemical kinetics is still referenced today, and his insights into reaction mechanisms continue to influence research in chemistry and related disciplines.

Personal Life

Hinshelwood was known for his modesty and dedication to teaching. He was a prolific writer, authoring several books and numerous scientific papers. He was also involved in various scientific societies and served as President of the Royal Society from 1955 to 1960.

Selected Publications

• The Kinetics of Chemical Change (1926)
• The Chemical Kinetics of the Bacterial Cell (1946)

See Also

• Chemical kinetics
• Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Nikolay Semyonov

External Links

• Nobel Prize Biography