Keywords Born in 1929 Chemists

In 1958 Polanyi and his graduate student Kenneth Cashion published their first findings on infrared chemiluminescence (the emission of light by an atom or molecule that is in an excited state). By introducing newly formed atomic hydrogen into a stream of chlorine gas at low temperatures, they found that instead of losing their energy in collisions, the newly formed hydrogen chloride molecules discharged it in a cascade of infrared photons. Coincidentally, Arthur Schawlow (a graduate of U of T) and Charles H. Townes developed the principle of the laser, for which they shared a Nobel Prize in 1964. Polanyi was quick to realize that his findings could have important practical implications for the construction a powerful "chemical" laser. In 1964 J.V.V. Kasper and G.C. Pimentel were able to construct such a laser based on chemical reactions. Since then, these "vibrational" lasers have made enormous contributions to science, medicine and industry.

Beyond this considerable practical benefit, Polanyi's discoveries have provided a new way of investigating the very nature of chemical reactions themselves. Polanyi's contributions to science were recognized on a global scale in 1986, when he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Dudley Herschenbach and Yuan T. Lee for developing "a new field of research in chemistry... in which the extremely weak infrared emission from a newly formed molecule is measured." His recent work focuses on the use of spectroscopy (the science that deals with the analysis of the light spectrum) to gain an insight into what he calls the "molecular dance" in chemical reactions, the process by which chemicals change partners.

Polanyi's influence ranges far beyond his contributions to chemical science. He is a vocal critic of short-sighted government science policies which look skeptically on the value of "pure" research. He has been very active in the peace and disarmament movements as founding chair of the Canadian Pugwash Group and as a speaker and prolific author. He has also spoken widely on the nature of science and its relation to creativity and art. He has received numerous honours in addition to the Nobel Prize, including Companion of the Order of Canada. He has also received the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Prize (1988), the Royal Medal of the Royal Society of London (1989) and 26 honorary doctorates from universities in six countries.

Polanyi, John
John Polanyi receiving his share of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry from King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, 10 December 1986 (photo by Rolf Hamilton, Pressens Bild).

Author JAMES MARSH

Suggested Reading
Reading: Laylin K. James, ed, Nobel Laureates in Chemistry 1901-1992 , Science (Nov 7, 1986) Scientific American, (Dec 1986), Peter Drucker Autobiography of a Bystander.

Links to Other Sites
John Polanyi
This profile of John Polanyi is from the Great Canadian Scientists website.

John Polanyi (Nobel Site)
Read a bio of John Polanyi, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for chemistry. Also check out the interview and other resources on right sidebar of this webpage. From The Nobel Foundation.

John Polanyi
A profile of John Polanyi page from the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame.