29 Facts About Izaak Kolthoff

Izaak Maurits Kolthoff was an analytical chemist and chemistry educator.

Izaak Kolthoff is widely considered the father of analytical chemistry for his large volume of published research in diverse fields of analysis, his work to modernize and promote the field, and for advising a large number of students who went on to influential careers of their own.

Izaak Kolthoff was active in social causes, including promoting world peace and opposing nuclear weapons testing.

Izaak Kolthoff received a PhD in chemistry from the University of Utrecht in his native Netherlands.

Izaak Kolthoff was born in Almelo, Netherlands, on February 11,1894, the son of Moses and Rosetta Izaak Kolthoff.

At an early age, Izaak Kolthoff received the nickname "Piet" for unknown reasons; he continued to be called by this nickname throughout his life.

Izaak Kolthoff graduated from high school in 1911 and enrolled at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Izaak Kolthoff wanted to study chemistry, but at that time students in the physical sciences were required to have studied either Latin or Greek languages; Izaak Kolthoff, who was already fluent in Dutch, German French, and English, choose to study pharmacy in order to avoid this requirement.

Izaak Kolthoff introduced Kolthoff to research in the areas of electro-analytical chemistry and co-precipitation.

Izaak Kolthoff advised Kolthoff to approach analytical chemistry from a scientific perspective as opposed to an empirical one.

Also in 1915, Izaak Kolthoff obtained an "apotheker" degree in pharmacy.

Izaak Kolthoff continued his education at Utrecht with advanced courses in physical and colloid chemistry.

Izaak Kolthoff remained at the University of Utrecht as a lecturer in electrochemistry and a researcher until 1927.

Izaak Kolthoff conducted a lecture tour of the United States and Canada in 1924.

Izaak Kolthoff accepted the position and continued his research and writing, producing English translations and expansions of much of his previous work.

Izaak Kolthoff retired in 1962, at which time he had authored 809 research papers.

Izaak Kolthoff was a proponent for establishing analytical chemistry as a modern scientific discipline and elevating its reputation among chemists generally.

Izaak Kolthoff was involved in the founding of the American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry in 1938 and the establishment of the Analytical Chemistry Division of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry in 1951.

Izaak Kolthoff served on the editorial board of the ACS journal Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Analytical Edition from 1935 until 1942 and ACS's Analytical Chemistry when it was introduced in 1948.

Izaak Kolthoff authored nearly 1,000 scientific papers, nine books, and several other publications over the course of his career.

Izaak Kolthoff corresponded with science and political leaders including Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Linus Pauling and Hubert Humphrey on issues of global importance that included promoting peace and opposing nuclear weapons testing.

Izaak Kolthoff was accused of belonging to several subversive organizations, but no actions were taken against him.

Izaak Kolthoff never married and lived most of his life a short distance from the chemistry building.

Izaak Kolthoff died of kidney failure on 4 March 1993 at Bethesda Lutheran Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in St Paul.

Izaak Kolthoff was the recipient of many awards, honorary degrees, and other honors throughout his career, some of which are listed below.

Izaak Kolthoff was named a Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau, a civil and military honor provided by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in 1947.

In 1958, Izaak Kolthoff was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Izaak Kolthoff was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an honorary member of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and an honorary member of eight foreign chemical societies.

Izaak Kolthoff was inducted into the Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Minnesota Science and Technology Hall of Fame in 2012.