The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1903
Svante Arrhenius
Presentation Speech by Dr. H.R. Törnebladh, President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, on December 10, 1903
Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies
and Gentlemen.
During the first year of the last century Volta made the first
electric pile. By studying the chemical actions of the electric
current thus obtained Davy in Britain and Berzelius and Hisinger
in Sweden arrived at the conclusion that the relationship between
electrical and chemical phenomena was one of cause and effect. On
the basis of this idea Berzelius established his well-known
electrochemical theory, which reigned supreme until the middle of
the century; however, new discoveries showed that this theory
would not stand up to examination, and chemical phenomena ceased
to be explained as being due to electricity. It was generally
accepted that chemical changes of matter were due to a certain
affinity, though the origin of this affinity was absolutely
unknown. Then came the heyday of thermochemistry, when it was
believed that the explanation of the transformation of chemical
energy during chemical reactions lay in the heat phenomena
occurring during chemical processes.
Around 1880 Svante Arrhenius - then studying for a doctorate in
science - arrived, as a result of his researches into the
movement of electric current through solutions, at a new
explanation of the causes of chemical phenomena, i.e. he
attributed them to electrical charges contained in the
constituents of reacting substances. Electricity was thus
introduced as a decisive factor into the theory of chemistry, in
other words the basic notion of the theory of Berzelius had come
back into favour, although in a greatly modified form.
In the time of Berzelius this notion rested on a qualitative
basis only, whereas Arrhenius's theory determined it
quantitatively, thus allowing it to be treated mathematically. In
his doctor's thesis, twenty years ago, Arrhenius had deduced from
this principle all known laws governing chemical changes, but
despite this the new theory was very little understood. It so
conflicted with current ideas as to disprove them. According to
this theory, for instance, common salt, sodium chloride, when
dissolved in water splits up to a varying extent, in other words
it is dissociated into its constituent parts which are
diametrically opposed but charged with electricity, i.e. into
ions of chlorine and of sodium, the only chemically
effective substances in a solution of common salt. The theory
also claimed that when an acid and a base react upon one another,
water is the primary product and salt the secondary, and not
reversely, as was then generally believed. Ideas so contrary to
those current at that time could not be accepted immediately. A
struggle lasting more than ten years and an enormous number of
new experiments were required before the new theory was accepted
by everyone. During this long battle over Arrhenius's theory of
dissociation tremendous advances were made in chemistry and ever
closer links were established between chemistry and physics - to
the great benefit of both sciences.
One of the most important consequences of Arrhenius's theory was
the completion of the great generalizations for which the first
Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to Van't Hoff. Without the support of
Arrhenius's theory that of Van't Hoff would never have gained
general recognition. The names of Arrhenius and Van't Hoff will
go down in history of chemistry as marking the modern period of
this science and it is for this reason that the Academy, despite
the fact that the experimental basis of the theory of
dissociation belongs to physics, did not hesitate to award the
Nobel Prize for Chemistry to Arrhenius.
The Academy of Sciences counts itself fortunate in being able to
award the Nobel Prize for Chemistry this year to the compatriot
of Berzelius who rehabilitated the fundamental notion of his
theory, and its task is made even more pleasant by the fact that
its choice is supported by the most outstanding scientific
authorities of our day.
Doctor. The world of science already
recognizes the importance and value of your theory, but its
lustre will continue to increase in the days to come, as you
yourself and others use it to advance the science of chemistry.
Physical research has contributed to your discovery and this fact
throws new light on the relationship - more sensed than proved -
between the different natural sciences, the common objective of
which is to solve the riddles of life.
Success spurs us on to new endeavours - a fact realized by the
generous Maecenas, whose name is now linked with your own. May
your future work bear ever more abundant fruit and, when
champions of the spirit and of learning advance along the trail
that you have blazed, may your name be remembered in the proud
words: Ille fecit.
From Nobel Lectures, Chemistry 1901-1921, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1966
Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 1903
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