Fritz Haber

Description: (Chemist)

Fritz Haber was a German chemist who won the 1918 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the synthesis of ammonia from its elements. He born into a well-established Jewish family in Breslau; his father owned a prosperous chemical business. After receiving his PhD from Friedrich Wilhelm University, Fritz Haber first decided to join his father’s business; but later changed his mind and joined University of Jenna. While working as an independent assistant at Jena he converted to Lutheranism. Later, he shifted first to University of Karlsruhe and then to Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry at Berlin-Dahlem. At Karlsruhe, he worked on different projects and made major contributions in the field of chemistry. His work on synthesizing of ammonia for use in the fertilizer and explosive industries is one of his most significant discoveries. It not only earned him fame, but also the Nobel Prize in 1918. However, his invention of chemical weapon during the World War I made him equally unpopular. However, he defended his action by saying that death was death; it did not matter how it happened. He also declared that during peace the scientists belonged to the world, but during the war, they belonged only to their own country.

Overview

Birthday December 9, 1868 (Sagittarius)
City Wrocław, Poland
Died on January 29, 1934
Parents

Did you know

What is Fritz Haber known for? Fritz Haber is known for his contributions to the development of chemical warfare during World War I and for his work in the synthesis of ammonia.
What is the Haber process? The Haber process is a method for the production of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen, developed by Fritz Haber in the early 20th century.
What impact did Fritz Haber's work have on agriculture? Fritz Haber's work in the synthesis of ammonia led to the development of synthetic fertilizers, which greatly increased crop yields and revolutionized agriculture.
What was Fritz Haber's involvement in World War I? Fritz Haber played a major role in the development and deployment of chemical weapons for the German army during World War I.
What is the controversy surrounding Fritz Haber's legacy? There is controversy surrounding Fritz Haber's legacy due to his contributions to chemical warfare, which have been criticized for their devastating impact on human life.
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