In the Netherlands, there was a lingering prejudice against chemistry. His father was opposed to his son becoming a chemist, and at the age of 17, when he graduated from high school, van Hoof heeded his father's advice. In 1869 he went to Delft to study industrial technology at the Higher School of Arts and Crafts before going to university. There, he earned the respect of the chemist A.C. Oldmans and the physicist van der Sande-Bakkhuyren, who taught at the school, with excellent grades, and in two years he completed the required three years of study. This period of study reinforced Van Hove's confidence and determination to pursue chemistry for the rest of his life. At home, his father's love of Byron's Psalms had infected the family. Later, the empirical philosophical ideas of Comte made Van Hoof fall head over heels. These taught him to see everything in life from a philosophical point of view. It also enabled him to study chemistry throughout his life, often peering into the mysteries of nature at a philosophical level.
After graduating from the University of Leiden in 1872, Van Hove went to Berlin to study with Kekuler, a famous German organic chemist, in order to further his studies in chemistry. In the following year, Kekuler recommended him to go to the laboratory of Wouz at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris. Under the guidance of the famous chemist Wouz, van Hoof and his French classmate, Le Bel, got further education. They both went on to become founders of the new discipline of stereochemistry. By the middle of the 19th century, the classical structural theory of organic compounds had been largely established by the likes of Kekuler and the Russian chemist Butlerov. At the same time, however, it was increasingly discovered that certain organic compounds possessed spin phenomena. The Frenchman Pasteur first discovered that the tartaric and gluconic acid parts had two different structures, left and right-handed. Later, the German chemist Willisenus also discovered the spin isomerization phenomenon of lactic acid. Van Hove was guided by Wouz in Paris, with Le Bell respectively, on the question of why certain organic compounds have spin isomerism, carried out extensive experiments and explorations. 1874, Van Hove and Le Bell respectively, put forward on the orthotetrahedral configuration of carbon doctrine.
One day, Van Hoof was sitting in the library of the University of Utrecht, carefully reading a paper by Willisenus on the study of lactic acid, and he casually drew the chemical formula of lactic acid on a piece of paper; when he focused his eyes on a carbon atom in the center of the molecule, he immediately associated it with the fact that, if the different substituent groups on the carbon atom were all replaced by hydrogen atoms, then the lactic acid molecule would become a methane molecule. From this he imagined what would happen if the hydrogen and carbon atoms in a methane molecule were arranged in the same plane. This chance idea made van Hoof run out of the library in excitement. As he walked down the street, he wondered whether it would be possible to arrange the four hydrogen atoms in a methane molecule in a plane with the carbon atoms. At this point, with extensive knowledge of mathematics and physics, Van Hove suddenly remembered that in nature everything tends to the state of minimum energy. This can only be achieved if the hydrogen atoms are evenly distributed in the space around a carbon atom. So what does a methane molecule look like in space? Van Hoof snapped to the realization that an orthotetrahedron! Of course it should be an orthotetrahedron! This is the most appropriate spatial arrangement of the methane molecule, and he further imagined that if four different substituent groups were used to replace the hydrogen atoms around the carbon atom, it was obvious that they could be arranged in space in two different ways. With this in mind, van Hoof ran back to the library and sat down, drawing two tetrahedrons next to the chemical formula for lactic acid, and one was the mirror image of the other. He summarized his ideas and discovered, to his surprise, that the differences in the rotational properties of substances are closely related to their molecular space structure. This was the secret of the production of spin isomerism in matter. Van Hove believed that in the already established classical organic structure theory, the original chemical structure formula could not reflect the isomerization phenomenon of certain organic compounds because people did not yet understand the actual positions in which the atoms were located. Based on his own research, he published the article "Space Chemistry" in 1875. For the first time, he proposed a new concept of "asymmetric carbon atom". The existence of asymmetric carbon atoms gives rise to two variants of the tartaric acid molecule - dextro-tartaric acid and levotartaric acid; when the two are mixed, the optically inactive racemic tartaric acid can be obtained. Van Hove explained these spin phenomena with his proposed "orthotetramer model".
Fanhoff's hypothesis on the spatial structure of molecules not only explains the optical isomerization phenomenon, but also explains another kind of non-spin isomerization phenomenon, such as cis-butenedioic acid and trans-butenedioic acid, and cis-methylbutenedioic acid and trans-methylbutenedioic acid. The birth of the hypothesis of the spatial structure of molecules immediately aroused great repercussions throughout the chemical world, and some knowledgeable people saw the profound meaning of the new hypothesis and praised Van Hove for this initiative. For example, Bie Barlow, a physics professor at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, said, "This is an excellent hypothesis! I think it will cause a revolution in organic chemistry." The famous organic chemist, Prof. Hamlisenus, wrote to van Hoof: "I am very pleased with the results of your work on the theory. Not only do I see in your article an extremely witty attempt to illustrate hitherto unclarified facts, but I am also convinced that such an attempt will be epoch-making in our science ......." They all actively supported and encouraged van Hoof to translate his paper into French, German, and many other languages for wide dissemination. At that time, however, many people did not yet understand the true meaning of the new doctrine, and they even fiercely opposed Van Hove's views. Prof. Hermann Kolbe of Leipzig, Germany, wrote a sharply sarcastic article: "There is a Dr. van Hove of the Veterinary College of Utrecht, who is not interested in precise chemical research. In his Stereochemistry he declared that he found it most convenient to take a ride on the Pegasus which he had rented from the Veterinary College, and as he bravely flew to the summit of the Parnassus of Chemistry, he discovered how atoms are assembled by themselves in the space of the universe." Instead, Fittig and others asserted that Van Hove's hypothesis was incompatible with the laws of physics. These objections, however, instead of damaging Van Hove's new theory, served to publicize and spread it, for those who read the scathing reviews of Kolbe and others became interested in Van Hove's theories and went to learn more about the content of his papers. Thus, in turn, the new theory spread rapidly through the scientific community. As Byron said, "Wake up and be famous." Criticisms such as Kolbe's made Van Hove a prominent figure. Soon Van Hove was employed as a lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, and in 1878 he became a professor of chemistry.
Thus, the concept of the "asymmetric carbon atom" pioneered by van Hove and the establishment of the hypothesis of the orthotetrahedral configuration of carbon (sometimes referred to as the van Hove-Le-Bel model) proved to be the hallmark of the birth of stereochemistry in the years to come, in spite of the fact that the academic community gave the hypothesis mixed reviews. Between 1878 and 1896, Van Hove was professor of chemistry, mineralogy, geology and head of the chemistry department at the University of Amsterdam. During this period, he again concentrated on the problems of physical chemistry. He explored such problems as chemical thermodynamics and chemical affinity, chemical kinetics and the osmotic pressure of dilute solutions and related laws.
The ability of substances to react chemically and the magnitude of their reactivity is an old subject of chemical theory. Early chemists have been using vague concepts such as "chemical affinity," "chemical force," and "action force" to express and explain these issues. Therefore, in the early chemical literature, the concept of chemical reaction time or reaction rate is always inseparable from the concept of "affinity" and "chemical force". Until the beginning of the 19th century, people still could not correctly distinguish between the possibility of a chemical reaction occurring in a substance and the speed of the chemical reaction when it actually occurs.
Since 1877, Van Hove began to pay attention to the study of chemical kinetics and the problem of chemical affinity, and in 1884 he published a book entitled "The Study of Chemical Kinetics", in which he not only clarified the speed of reaction, but also the speed of chemical reaction, which was the most important factor in the development of chemical reactions. In the book, he not only elucidated the chemical kinetic problems such as reaction rate, but also specialized in the theory of chemical equilibrium and the theory of affinity based on free energy.
The book firstly focuses on the speed of chemical reaction and its law of change. He creatively categorizes reaction rates into three different types of unimolecular, bimolecular, and multimolecular reactions for study. Secondly, van Hove adopted the view of chemical equilibrium for reactions in two opposite directions (i.e., reversible reactions) to study. He pioneered the use of the double-arrow symbol to indicate the dynamic nature of chemical equilibrium. Finally, he also gave a clear definition of chemical affinity and studied it. Another topic in the field of physical chemistry on which Van Hove focused was the osmotic pressure of dilute solutions and the laws governing it. He did many experiments on the osmotic pressure of solutions and proposed an osmotic pressure formula that can be universally applied.
PV = iRT i>1
The formula P is the osmotic pressure of the solution, V is its volume; R is the ideal gas constant, T is the absolute temperature of the solution.
Vanhove also proved that for many substances: the value is 1, i.e., the osmotic pressure relation is PV = RT. Also, he carried out a great deal of research on the application of this equation and on systems where i is not equal (electrolyte solutions). Starting with chemical kinetics, van Hoof went on to study thermodynamics extensively, especially in relation to the osmotic pressure of dilute solutions. He unified chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and physical measurements, and established the foundations of physical chemistry. The birth of physical chemistry had its share of setbacks, just as van Hove had in the creation of stereochemistry. There was a young man in Sweden who graduated from university not long ago named Stefan Arenius. Based on his studies of the conductivity of solutions, he formulated a hypothesis about the ionization of solutions. But this new theory was immediately met with strong opposition from many scholars in the country. In order to seek understanding and support, Arrhenius sent his paper to van Hoof for correction. Unexpectedly in a foreign country, van Hoof read the paper in one breath, not only immediately comprehend the basic views of Arsenius, and thus was greatly enlightened. His mind was enlightened: Ionization! Yes, ionization! This is precisely the reason why an electrolyte solution i >= 1. According to van Hove, if the electrolyte in a solution does break down into ions, then the number of particles in the solution increases. Similarly, if the osmotic pressure is due to particles hitting a semipermeable membrane compartment, it is easy to understand why the measured pressure would be higher than the calculated pressure value. He put his ideas into a paper and wrote to Arrhenius, expressing his complete agreement with the ionization theory.
Vanhove's article on the osmotic pressure of electrolyte solutions, published in Stockholm, aroused the great interest of the German scientist Wilhelm Ostwald. A few months later, he traveled to Amsterdam and had a long conversation with van Hove. They both agreed that Arrhenius' doctrine of ionization was a remarkable creation. Ostwald said to van Hoof, "I think that this is the beginning of a new theory which will form the basis for the study of the properties of solutions. And your own research will confirm and develop this theory." He also initiated, "The cause requires a closer cooperation between all of us, uniting all forces." He was delighted when he learned that Arrhenius had decided to come to Amsterdam to conduct experiments with van Hove, and later to visit him in Riga, and at the beginning of August 1887 the first issue of the Journal of Physical Chemistry, which they **** founded together, appeared in Leipzig. This marked the birth of a new fringe discipline, physical chemistry. Van Hove and Areneus, Osterwalder's friendship and collaboration, so that they broke through the national boundaries and disciplinary limitations, *** with the foundation for the creation of new disciplines, for the establishment of the emerging basic theories for the tenacious battle. Therefore, they are known as the "Three Musketeers of Physical Chemistry". Van Hove engaged in a lifetime of organic stereochemistry and physical chemistry, extensive research, has achieved fruitful, so that he became the world's first Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner. December 10, 1901, he came to Stockholm, "in the Swedish academy of sciences held in the grand award ceremony, delivered a speech, he focused on the theory of solution of the scientific aspects of the achievements. achievements.
These pioneering contributions to chemistry by van Hove showed him to be above his predecessors and his contemporaries, and thus he was highly honored. This, of course, is inseparable from his love of chemistry since childhood and his broad and deep knowledge in mathematics and physics. However, his attention to philosophical training and constant search for the scientific method gave him an extraordinary ability to create and imagine, and his strong interest in chemical experiments as a child became the basis for his achievements. He emphasized experimentation, but was not confined to narrow experience as were the majority of scientists of his time. He was good at skillfully using mathematical methods to organize the results of experiments, and pay attention to analogies and other logical reasoning from the mathematical equations to deduce some theoretical new theories, which is an important method for him to create a new discipline of physical chemistry. In the creation of stereochemistry, the main manifestation of his modeling method and scientific hypothesis method of deep understanding and flexible application, he always stood in the philosophical height to grasp the essence of the problem, better than others.
Since 1885, van Hoof has been elected to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences. He was also elected to the Royal Academy of Sciences in Gogent, the London Chemical Society, the American Chemical Society and the German Academy of foreign members, and received many honorary medals. 1901 after he accepted the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, he was invited to visit the United States, Germany and other economically and culturally advanced countries, and received honorary doctorates many times. However, he always remembered to serve his motherland. When he encountered difficulties in scientific research, he also traveled abroad several times to engage in research. However, the Dutchman could not be retained by the high salary and comfortable living conditions in foreign countries. As soon as there were proper facilities in China, he returned to his country with determination. He worked hard all his life with rare enthusiasm and vigor, he was often sleepless and sleepless, working more than 10 hours a day day and night. Near the end of his life, Van Hoof ended up with a long period of accumulated labor, he was increasingly serious tuberculosis plagued. At that time, this is a kind of human helplessness "incurable disease", so that he is getting weaker and weaker, body wasting, breathlessness. With the help of friends, he underwent surgery in Berlin, but still could not regain his former ability to work. Tenacious van Hove every day lying in bed still can not leave the book, organize information and write a diary. Spirit a little better, he could not lie down, asked the doctor to allow him to go to work. As soon as he left the bed, he seemed to forget the pain and immersed in the research work. Arrhenius, who had just arrived in Switzerland, immediately traveled to Berlin to see this dear friend. When he saw the scientific swordsman was tortured by the disease is not like when, the heart is very sad. Arrenius forced to endure the inner uneasiness, still with the burning friendship to comfort his foreign comrade, encouraging him to rest and recuperate, in order to rise again. However, this was only a wish, and this meeting was the farewell of the two giants of chemistry; on March 1, 1911, at the age of 59, van Hoof died at an early age. The fall of a scientific star shocked the world of chemistry. The people of the Netherlands endured the loss of a devoted son. In order to remember him forever, after the cremation of van Hove's body, people will be his ashes in Berlin Dahlem Cemetery for posterity.