George Porter

British chemist

George Porter, Baron Porter of Luddenham, OM, FRS, was a British chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1967 for his work on the study of extremely fast chemical reactions, effected by disturbing the equilibrium by means of very short pulses of energy.

Early Life and Education

George Porter receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1967

George Porter was born on 6 December 1920 in Stainforth, a small village in South Yorkshire, England. He attended the local school before winning a scholarship to Leeds University, where he studied chemistry. After completing his undergraduate degree, Porter went on to pursue a PhD at Cambridge University, where he worked under the supervision of Ronald Norrish.

Career and Research

Porter's early research focused on the study of photochemistry, the branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical effects of light. During his time at Cambridge, he developed a keen interest in the mechanisms of chemical reactions and the role of light in initiating these processes.

Flash Photolysis

In the early 1950s, Porter, along with Norrish, developed the technique of flash photolysis, which allowed scientists to observe the intermediate stages of very fast chemical reactions. This technique involves the use of a short burst of light to excite the molecules in a sample, followed by a second light pulse to probe the changes that occur. Flash photolysis provided a new way to study reaction kinetics and was instrumental in advancing the understanding of reaction intermediates.

Nobel Prize

In 1967, George Porter was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, along with Manfred Eigen and Ronald George Wreyford Norrish, for their studies of extremely fast chemical reactions. Porter's contribution was specifically recognized for his development of the flash photolysis technique, which opened up new avenues in the study of chemical kinetics.

Later Work and Legacy

After receiving the Nobel Prize, Porter continued to be an influential figure in the field of chemistry. He served as the Director of the Royal Institution in London from 1966 to 1985, where he was instrumental in promoting public understanding of science. He was also a strong advocate for the role of science in addressing global challenges, such as climate change and energy sustainability.

Porter was made a life peer in 1990, taking the title Baron Porter of Luddenham. He remained active in scientific and public life until his death on 31 August 2002.

Honors and Awards

Throughout his career, George Porter received numerous honors and awards in recognition of his contributions to science. In addition to the Nobel Prize, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1960 and was awarded the Order of Merit in 1989.

Related pages

• Photochemistry
• Chemical kinetics
• Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Royal Institution