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Centennial Anniversary of Dr. Emich's Birth Commemorated /""^RAZ, V j
AUSTRIA.
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honor of the 100th birthday of Dr. Friedrich Emich was held here Oct. 12 to 15, under sponsorship of the Austrian Microchemical Society of the Verein Osterreichischer Chemiker. About 100 scientists and dignitaries from eight European countries joined in the festi val and attended a microchemical sym posium of 24 papers. Dr. Georg Gorbach, of the Technische Hochschule Graz, was in charge of arrangements. There were two particular highlights in the program. In one of these, the first steps toward establishing the Emieh-Pregl Central Research Insti tute for Microchemistry were taken. In the other, a suggestion was offered which would result in international recognition of Dr. Emich's attainments, if adopted. This involves establish ment of a unit of measure to be called the Emich. One Emich would desig nate a mass of 10~15 gm., a unit found useful as a basis of microchemical analysis. Dr. Emich, recognized as the founder of modern microchemistry, was born in Graz on Sept. 5, 1860, and died there on Jan. 22, 1940, after a life devoted to studying, teaching, and developing his microchemical techniques. Repeatedly, despite attractive offers from other cities and countries, he had refused to leave his beloved home town. Thus, he had a close connection with the city of his birth which was long recognized and appreciated by the city itself. Today, there stands at his birthplace a marble jilaque executed by sculptor Prof. W. Gosser, erected by the city. A modest and almost retiring re search scientist, Dr. Emich spent his working hours with such intensity that in scarcely 30 years his microchemical techniques have become an accepted routine of analytical chemistry. He was concerned as a true scientist and philosopher not only with the factual statements in his own work but also with those concerning his contributions. Even in his last years he still wanted to establish the facts on two controver sial issues which never had been settled during his lifetime. In his scientific testament, he has emphasized that the original Kuhlmann balance in his labo ratory could weigh accurately to
Bust of Dr. Emich made by the sculp tor W. Gosser in 1950 ±0.00x mg.; thus it was the first in strument on which quantitative milli gram determinations were done by Donau and Emich. Further, he and co workers did the first quantitative or ganic elementary analyses on milligram samples for nearly all elements except carbon and hydrogen. Dr. Enrich even recommended to his coworker, Donau, that he leave the field of quantitative organic analysis for further study with Prof. F. Pregl, being more interested in developing the gen eral techniques of handling small amounts of material. Known widely as an excellent teacher, Dr. Emich was particularly noted for his ability to develop and demonstrate striking lecture experiments. He had many friendly ties with scientists in the United States, especially with the late Prof. Ε. Μ . Chamot of Cornell University. About the time of the First World War he corresponded and collaborated with Prof. J. L. Howe of Washington and Lee University. Dr. Emich lies buried near Graz, and this was the scene of a ceremony dur ing the October meeting at which a wreath was placed by the Austrian
Microchemical Society. The headstone on his grave emphasizes the fact that he was a regular member of the Aus trian Academy of Sciences. There are several mementos in and near Graz which testify to the esteem in which Dr. Emich's memory is held. In addition to the plaque at his birth place, he is remembered by a bust which is exhibited in his old lecture hall at the Technische Hochschule. This was a gift of American microchemists and former coworkers on the occasion of the First International Microchemi cal Congress which was held at Graz in 1950. Also at the 1950 Congress, a plaque was dedicated on the Sehlossberg, a favorite relaxation spot for Dr. Emich located in the center of the city. The city has developed at this point a small area which it has designated "Emich-Platzl" in remembrance of the fact that Dr. Emich was so often to be seen here, especially after his retire ment. Technical papers presented at the symposium were much in the spirit of Dr. Emich. They covered a broad range of topics, and apparently many of them were inspired by the varied in terests with which he associated him self. Limitations of space prevent a detailed account of the subject matter offered by the participants. • G. Ackcrmann and CI. Alferi (Frei burg, Germany) evaluated the color of bead reactions spectrophotometrieally and were able to do semiquantitative work on mixtures of at least two ele ments. • H. Ballczo (Vienna, Austria) gave examples of the possibility of increas ing sensitivity of microchemical reac tions. Here, the bleaching reaction for fluorides in combination with the Weisz ring oven technique was interesting, as were the so-called "Korund" sticks for lead ions. • F . Canal (Milan, Italy) gave his experiences with routine quantitative organic \vork, stressing recent rapid combustion procedures. • H. Malissa (Vienna, Austria) spoke of completely automatic open tube pro cedures for carbon and sulfur, using conductivity measurements in the final stages. VOL. 33, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 1961
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• R. Piischel and H. Wittmann (Graz, Austria) used the Schoniger flask combustion procedure to deter mine orthophosphates by direct titra tion. • R. Fischer (Graz, Austria) analyzed more than 100 binary liquid mixtures and solutions by means of critical mix ing temperatures on the Kofler hot stage. He illustrated the technique on determining ethyl alcohol in pharma ceutical preparations. • E. Schwarz-Bergkampf (Leoben, Austria), in the field of paper chroma tography, discussed separation of inor ganic ions preliminary to actual per formance of spot test reactions. • A . Lacourt (Brussels, Belgium) used her procedure of combined paper chromatography and spectrophotom etry for determination of traces of zinc. • F. Feigl (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and V. Anger (Vienna, Austria) de scribed identification and differentia tion of isomeric organic compounds, as an example of the current high level of sensitivity and specificity of drop test reactions. • H. Weisz and L. J. Ottendorfer (Vienna, Austria) emphasized the pos sibility of semiquantitative determina tions of radioactive components by means of the ring oven technique. • G. Kainz and H. Horwatitsch (Vienna, Austria) reviewed some as pects of the field of quantitative or ganic analysis. They studied the oxida tion layers in combustion tube fillings and were able to develop a formula for the influence of some experimental fac tors on results. • M . Reese (Frankfurt/Main, Ger many) discussed the important role played by activation analysis tech-
Original analytical balance of W. H. F. K u h l m a n n , p u r c h a s e d in 1 9 0 6 a n d still in t h e same location
niques in the analysis of high purity semiconductor materials. • H. Spitzy (Bad Hall, Austria) showed, with copper analyses as an example, that, nearly the same sensi tivity could, -be*Reached with his "extraction-radiomitric titration" proce dure as was possible with activation analysis. • E. Schroll (Vienna, Austria) dis cussed trace analysis, with reference to thermochemical reactions in emission speotrography. • F. A. Pohl (Frankfurt/Main, Ger many) spoke on the fundamentals of trace analysis, with special reference to highest purity substances. • L. Rosenthaler and F. Ludy-Tenger (Bern, Switzerland) reviewed some crystal precipitates on micro slides and their identification under the micro scope. The study dealt with 37 plant bases and 24 synthetic basic compounds of pharmaceutical interest. The above report on the centennial celebration of Dr. Friedrich Emich's birth date is based on a more detailed account which was prepared for Ana lytical Chemistry by Dr. Herbert K. Alber, Arthur H. Thomas Co., Phila delphia 5, Pa.
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Contact h i m for c o m p l e t e information JOHNS-MANVILLE Dr. Emich is shown with students and coworkers in his laboratory (1931) 40 A
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