Wolfgang Ostwald (1883-1943) .,
RALPH E. OESPER University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
T .
HOMAS GRAHAM (1805-1869) "the founder of collo~d chemistry" published his epoch-making papers in the early 1860's. In these studies, that dealt primarily with dialysis, he pointed out the differences between what he called "the two worlds of matter." He also coined the excellent terms colloid, crystalloid, dialysis, sol, gel, and so forth. Angus Smith, in 1875, eulogized this work: "We see how carefully Graham thought on the internal constitution of bodies by examining the motion of the parts, and from the most unpromising and hopeless masses under the chemist's handsamorphous precipitates of alumina or of albumen-brought out analogies which connected them with the most interesting phenomena of organic life. Never has a less brilliant looking series of experiments been made by a chemist, whilst few have been as brilliant in their results, or promise more to the inquirer who follows into the wide regions opened." Findlay's appraisal is less florid, but more realistic. "Although the experiments of Graham did not contribute much to the elucidation of the fundamental nature of colloidal systems, they were of great practical value; foi the process of dialysis which Graham introduced gave a means of separating and distinguishing between what Graham regarded as two diierent kinds of matter, but which are now recognized merely as diierent states of matter." During the rest of the century relatively little was done. The behavior of a few colloidal systems was studied but, by and large, the field was tilled hardly a t all until practical considerations forced chemists and physicists to make systematic investigations of colloidally dispersed materials. Industries such as dyeing, cement, rubber, soap, photography, artificial textile fibers, starches, glass, soaps, tanning, etc., had developed and expanded tremendously during the latter half of the 19th century. They involve colloidal phenomena, and carefully planned studies were necessary so that the rule-of-thumb control of these important industries could be replaced by well-grounded rule of science. "Although the chemists of the preceding centuries dealt mostly with crystalloids, in the 20th century they will have the important obligation to devote the same attention and to expend like energy on the study of colloids." The outstanding leader in this movement, that has flowered into modem colloid chemistry, was Wolfgang Ostwald. Not only through his experimental studies, papers, and books, but by his public lectures, his organization of symposia and conventions, and by his editorial activities, he, more than any other individual, was responsible for the magnificant edifice that has grown
from what he once most aptly called "the chemistry of neglected dimensions." (Carl) Wolfgang Ostwald was born a t Riga on May 27, 1883. He was the oldest son of Wilhelm Ostwald,' the illustrious physical chemist, teacher, and philosopher. In 1887, the family moved to Leipzig.and Wolfgang's life, as boy and man, was centered in $he University there. Since the professor's apartment adjoined the Institute fiir physikalische Chemie, the boy ran in and out of the laboratory and accepted the scienti6c atmosphere as part of his normal environment. When he reached the "collecting', age, insects were his choice. His mother thought that this enthusiasm should be systematically directed and, during her husband's absence, appealed to hi colleague Leuckart. The latter found numerous small jobs in the zoology mnseum. However, cleaning bones, assembling skeletons, and so on, did not consume all Wolfgang's energy and, quite on his own, he carried out his first research. He studied the ability of May-fly larvae to use substitutes for the plant remains ordinarily employed in building their pupa cases. He wrote up his results, took the paper to Prof. Leuckart, who had it published. The author was just 15. ' Although Wolfgang's father hoped that he would become an engineer, the young man's association with science had been too long and too intimate for him to abandon this field. Soon after the completion of his doctorate in 1904 a t Leipzig, he went to Berkeley as research assistant to Jacques Loeb. Here he met the physician and physiologist, Martin F i s ~ b e r . ~ They published a joint study on the physical-chemical theory of fertilization. Their acquaintance ripened into a life-long close friendship that, in later years, had a definite effect on the prosecution and advance of colloid chemistry in America. In 1906 he returned to Leipzig as assistant in the zoology department. He now definitely turned to problems presented by pure colloid chemistry, an interest that became predominant when, in 1907, he accepted the editorship of the Kolloid Zeitschrift, which had been founded the previous year. The usefulness of this periodical was enhanced in 1909 by the founding, under the same auspices, of a supplementary journal, the Kolloidchemische Beihefle, to provide a medium for the publication of lengthy papers and studies. Ostwald edited these journals the rest of his life. 'Confusion of the three W. Ostwalds has been avoided by referring to the father as W. or Wi., and to the sons as Wo. (for Wolfgang) and Wa. (for Walther). Now professor of physiology in the medical college of the University of Cincinnati.
The whole of his academic career was spent a t the University of Leipzig: Privatdozent, 1907; Extraordinarius, 1916; Professor of Colloid Chemistry, 1935. He was attached to the physical chemistry institute. When his chosen field became sufficiently recognized. a special colloid division was set up in the famous laboratory, which his father had built and then directed for so many fruitful years. Wolfgang Ostwald was imbued with an evangelistic fervor and he traveled widely to spread the colloid doctrine. Extended lecture tours, arranged principally by Dr. Fischer, brought him back to America twice. Those who heard his wonderfully interesting and well-illustrated talks were infected with his enthusiasm and went away with a fuller comprehension of what colloid chemistry was and could become. A permanent memorial of his first American tour was the fascigating little book: "Die Welt der vernachlassigten Dimen~ionen."~In England he worked primarily through the Faraday Society, participating in many colloquia. His lectures in Spain, Switzerland, Italy, France, Holland, and the Balkan countries left lasting imprints. Everywhere he preached the need of the establishment of chairs of colloid chemistry and the founding of research institutes, advice that has been heeded perhaps more in other countries than in his own fatherland. He was a fine example of the brotherhood of scientists and he left behind him a feeling of warm friendship and international good will. He was the leader in the organization of the Kolloid Gesellschaft in 1922. Its annual meetings brought together scientists from many countries. The outstanding success of these gatherings was due in prime
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a OSTWALD,WO.. "The World of Neglected Dimensions," translated by M. Firher. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 1922. Ten German editions were issued. the last in 1927.
measure to Dr. Ostwald, who not only took a leading part in selecting the central theme but assembled the program. By common consent he was the permanent chairman of the Gesellschaft, and the members would not listen to his requests to be allowed to retire. He and his students issued more than 200 papers on a wide range of topics. He particularly studied the viscosity of colloid dispersions, especially "structural viscosity," his well-known "Bodenkorperregef," foaming and breaking of foams, electrolyte-coagulation of sols, etc. Wherever possible he treated the topics from the mathematical-theoretical standpoint, trying always to get closer to the heart of these complex phenomena. He was, of course, interested in technical problems and published much on rubber, peat and humic acid, gelatine and starch, paper, ceramics, lubricants, etc. His books include his "Grundriss der Kolloidchemie,"4 and "Das Kolloidchemische Praktiknm" (1930) which was reprinted seven times. His "Licht und Farbe in Kolloiden" was published in 1924. For a time he edited the series "Klassiker der exakten Wissenschaften" which his father had issued with great success. He also collaborated in his father's "Color Atlas." Wolfgang Ostwald was a talented musician and was on intimate terms with members of the Leipzig symphony orchestra. He wrote excellent songs, both words and music. While on a vacation a t Dresden, he died unexpectedly on November 22, 1943, a loss to the chemical world that is mourned in both Axis and Allied nations. The English translation by Fischer, Oesper, and Berman was published at Philadelphia in 1915 with the title "A Handbook of Colloid Chemistry." There were seven German editions, but unfortunately no more than the first half of this important tent was ever issued.
