CORRESPONDENCE LE CHATELIER AND THE SYNTHESIS OF AMMONIA
To theEditor DEARSIR:
T o the &itor DEARSIR: In the excellent article by Professor Silverman on Henry Le Chatelier in the December issue of THIS JOURNAL, there is one statement to which I must take exception. On page 556 we read, "It is not strange that he [Le Chatelier] should have accomplished the synthesis of ammonia from the elements in 1901, anticipating Fritz Haber, who is usually the only one mentioned in connection with the process." Now Le Chatelier himself in his last book "De la Methode dans les Sciences Expkimentales," published in 1936, devotes three pages (pp. 73-6) to this synthesis in which he says that he tried to accomplish the direct union of hydrogen and nitrogen under a pressure of 200 atm. a t a temperature of 600° in the presence of metallic iron. A terrific explosion occurred which nearly killed an assistant. Some time later Le Chatelier found that the explosion was due to the presence of air in the apparatus used. And'thus i t was left for Haber to succeed where a number of noted French chemists, including Thenard, Sainte Claire Deville and even Berthelot had failed. At the end of his career Le Chatelier, with a disarming frankness, tells us, "I let the discovery of the ammonia synthesis slip through my hands. It was the greatest blunder of my scientific career. I should have realized this synthesis five years before Haber. . . . ." In calling attention to this statement I may say that those of your readers who are familiar with French will find a great many interesting observations and reflections in this scientific testament of a great Frenchman.
Your letter . . . and a couv . of Dr. van Klooster's letter . . . with comments on Le Chatelier's synthesis of ammonia have been received. It is regrettable that I should have overlooked the material which Dr. van Klooster quoted from Le Chatelier's last book, "De la Methode dans les Sciences Exp6rimentales." I based my statement on earlier articles which Le Chatelier had published on the synthesis. The earlier impressions are corroborated in an article, "The Scientific Career of Henry Louis Le Chatelier," by Ralph E. Oesper, which appeared in the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION, 8,442-61 (1931). On page 458 Dr. Oesper states, "At this period [the beginning of the World War of 19141 Claude was trying to develop the industrial synthesis of ammonia. He was guided to a large extent by the computations made by Le Chatelier, who had, in fact, taken out a patent long before Nernst and Haber had made their experiments. Claude's efforts met with complete failure, and he came for criticism and advice to Le Chatelier. The latter made certain suggestions, and Claude, then, for the first time, had the pleasure of seeing liquid ammonia issuing from his apparatus." ALEXANDER SILVERMAN UNIVERSITY OP PISTSBURGA PrrrssuRoa. PENNSYLVANIA
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To the Editor DEARSIR: With other material which you &e publishing as H. S. VAN KLOOSTER notes concerning Henry Le Chatelier, I suggest that RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE you make reference to his middle name. In a letter TROYNEW YORK
