Józef Zawadzki (chemist)

Józef Zawadzki (July 14 1886 in Warsaw – February 22 1951 in Zalesie, near Warsaw) was a Polish physical chemist and technologist. Father of Tadeusz ("Zośka") and Anna Zawadzka.

Zawadzki was a co-founder, President and Vice-President of the Polskie Towarzystwo Chemiczne. He was a professor (from 1923) and rector (1936–1939) of Warsaw University of Technology, and a member of the Polish Academy of Learning (since 1947).

The oldest and largest traditional lecture hall at the Warsaw University of Technology is named Prof. Józef Zawadzki Auditorium. [ [http://www.ch.pw.edu.pl/en/ The Faculty of Chemistry - Official Page, Warsaw University of Technology] , retrieved 2008-05-28.]

Research

His main field of research was physicochemical fundamentals of chemical technology. He was researching contact oxidation of ammonia, naphthalene and anthracene, mechanism of ammonia oxidation on platinum at low temperatures, reduction of iron dioxide by a methane, methods of obtaining aluminium oxide from Polish kaolinite and aluminosilicate, use of Polish anhydrite and gypsum deposit to production sulfuric acid and cementum, kinematics of thermal dissociation.

Under the German occupation of Poland during World War II, he was involved in the clandestine operation of the Warsaw University of Technology. Together with Marceli Struszyński, Zawadzki analyzed captured German V-2 rocket for its fuel composition. In 1947, he was recognized with a Doctor Honoris Causa. [ [http://www.technikumchemiczne.edu.pl/patron.html Technikum Chemiczne nr 3 in Warsaw, Poland] , retrieved 2008-05-28.]

Mechanism of ammonia oxidation on platinum at low temperatures

The mechanism of ammonia oxidation on platinum at low temperature was postulated by F. Rachsig (1927) and later adapted by Zawadzki (1948, 1950) to proceed via formation on imide (NH). In this proposal formation of nitroxyl and hydrazine (N₂H₄) is involved:Sobczyk (2003), p. 6.]

: NH₃ + O_(a) → NH_(a) + H₂O: NH_(a) + O_(a) → HNO_(a) + *: NH_(a) + NH₃ → N₂H_4(a): HNO_(a) + NH₃ → N₂H_4(a) + ½O₂: N₂H_4(a) + O₂ → N₂ + 2H₂O + *

Later, Y. M. Fogel (1964) disproved the Zawadzki theory that NH is formed via the oxidation of ammonia. In his proposal, NO is an important intermediate of the reaction. The formation of N₂O is not detected, therefore the mechanism does not involve its production.

Works

* "Technologia chemiczna nieorganiczna" vol. 1–2 (1948–1949)

Notes

References

* cite book
last=Broek
first=Arnoldus Cornelis Maria van den
title=Low temperature oxidation of ammonia over platinum and iridium catalysts
year=1998
isbn=9038606281
url=http://alexandria.tue.nl/extra3/proefschrift/boeken/9803814.pdf
format=PDF
* cite book
last=Sobczyk
first=Dariusz Piotr
title=Positron emission profiling study of ammonia oxidation on platinum
year=2003
isbn=9038630344
url=http://alexandria.tue.nl/extra2/200311957.pdf
format=PDF
* cite web
title=Zawadzki Józef
work=Internetowa encyklopedia PWN
url=http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=4000649
accessdate=2007-12-01
language=Polish
publisher=Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN
* cite web
title=Zawadzki Józef
work=WIEM Encyklopedia
url=http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/73590,,,,zawadzki_jozef,haslo.html
language=Polish
accessdate=2007-12-01

Persondata
NAME=Zawadzki, Józef
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=physical chemist, technologist
DATE OF BIRTH=July 14, 1886
PLACE OF BIRTH=Warsaw, Poland
DATE OF DEATH=February 22, 1951
PLACE OF DEATH=Zalesie, Poland