Selected topics in colloid chemistry with especial reference to biochemical problems / by Ross Aiken Bortner.

  • Gortner, Ross Aiken, 1885-1942.
Date:
1937
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Selected topics in colloid chemistry with especial reference to biochemical problems / by Ross Aiken Bortner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    cohesion and coagulation, Bredig19 discusses electrophoresis, Muller20 the classification of colloids, and Freundlich21 the flocculation of sols by electrolytes. Only one paper22, and that dealing with a gold sol, is of American origin. In my undergraduate and graduate lectures in chemistry (1902- 1909) I do not remember ever hearing the word “colloid” mentioned. Certainly it was never stressed as an important field of study. I believe that the first time that colloid chemistry was ever seriously called to my attention was in the summer of 1910 when Dr. Bancroft was arranging a symposium for the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society. At that time I was connected with a biological research institution, and Professor Bancroft invited me to present a paper on “Colloids in Biology.” Obviously I did not wish to reply that I did not know what he was talking about, so I took the usual procedure which is followed in such cases and pleaded the pressure of other work which prevented my complying with his request. However, I distinctly remember the embarrassment I felt on re- ceiving his letter, and I resolved then and there to see if colloids did have any relationship to biological phenomena. Today the behavior of colloid systems is taught in most under- graduate curricula, and a knowledge of colloid chemistry is essential to an adequate understanding of the principles of physiology and biochemistry. The chemical literature of the world is replete with papers dealing with the behavior of colloid systems. Medicine, industry, and the arts have profited greatly by advances in this field. Many of the technics of the other branches of chemistry and physics have been adopted by the colloid chemist to advance knowledge in his chosen field. The Nobel prize has been awarded to four men, Jean Perrin (1925-26), The Svedberg (1925-26), Richard Zsigmondy (1925-26), and our own Irving Langmuir (1932), who have made notable con- tributions to the theory and practice of colloid chemistry. No longer does a scientist primarily interested in the study of the phenomena of colloidal systems have to defend himself from the ridicule of his fellow chemists. The colloid chemist has acquired a modicum of respectability. More and more the biochemist and the physiologist 19 Bredig, G., Z. Electrochem., 9: 738 (1903). 20 Muller, A., Z. anorg. Chem., 36: 340 (1903). 21 Freundlich, H., Z. physik. Chem., 44: 129 (1903). 22 Blake, J. C., Am,. J. Sci., [4] 16: 381 (1903).