Citizendia

Thomas Graham (1805-1869)
Thomas Graham (1805-1869)

Thomas Graham FRS (December 21, 1805 – September 16, 1869) was born in Glasgow, Scotland. The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660 Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian Year 1805 ( MDCCCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Year 1869 ( MDCCCLXIX) is a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Graham's father was a successful textile manufacturer, and wanted his son to enter into the Church of Scotland. A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Manufacturing (from Latin manu factura, "making by hand" is the use of tools and labor to make things for use or sale The Church of Scotland (Eaglais na h-Alba known informally by its Scots language name The Kirk, is the National church of Scotland. Instead, defying his father's wishes, Graham became a student at the University of Glasgow in 1819. The University of Glasgow (Oilthigh Ghlaschu was founded in 1451 in Glasgow, Scotland and along with its contemporary institutions the University of St Andrews Year 1819 ( MDCCCXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar in the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year There he developed a strong interest in chemistry, and left the University after receiving his M. Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties A. in 1826. For the game see 1826 (board game. Year 1826 ( MDCCCXXVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display He later became a professor of chemistry at numerous colleges, including the Royal College of Science and Technology and the University of London. The meaning of the word professor ( Latin: professor, person who professes to be an expert in some art or science teacher of highest rank) varies The Royal College of Science and Technology was a predecessor institution of the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow, Scotland. The University of London is a university based primarily in London, England, UK.

Graham also founded the Chemical Society of London in 1841. The Chemical Society was formed in 1841 (then named the Chemical Society of London) as a result of increased interest in scientific matters For the game see 1841 (board game. Year 1841 ( MDCCCXLI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link

His final position was as the Master of the Mint, where he stayed for 15 years until his death. Master of the Mint was an important office in the governments of Scotland and England, and latterly Great Britain between the 16th and 19th centuries He was the last person to hold that position.

Scientific work

Thomas Graham is best known for two things:

1. His studies on the diffusion of gases resulted in "Graham's Law", which states that the rate of effusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass. Diffusion is the net movement of particles (typically molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration by uncoordinated random movement Graham's law, also known as Graham's law of effusion, was formulated by Scottish physical chemist Thomas Graham. In chemistry effusion is the process where individual molecules flow through a hole without collisions between molecules

2. His discovery of dialysis, which is used in many medical facilities today, was the result of Graham's study of colloids. In Medicine, dialysis (from Greek "dialusis" meaning dissolution "dia" meaning through and "lusis" meaning loosening is primarily A colloid is a type of mechanical Mixture where one substance is dispersed evenly throughout another This work resulted in Graham's ability to separate colloids and crystalloids using a so-called "dialyzer", the precursor of today's dialysis machine. In Medicine, dialysis (from Greek "dialusis" meaning dissolution "dia" meaning through and "lusis" meaning loosening is primarily This study initiated the scientific field known as colloid chemistry, of which Graham is credited as the founder. A colloid is a type of mechanical Mixture where one substance is dispersed evenly throughout another Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties

Honours, activities, and recognition

Signature of Thomas Graham
Signature of Thomas Graham

External links

Alexander William Williamson FRS ( May 1, 1824 &ndash May 6, 1904) English chemist was born at Wandsworth London.
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