Sir Cyril Norman Hinshelwood

Cyril Norman Hinshelwood was born on June 19, 1897, in London, England. He was the son of Norman Macmillan Hinshelwood, a chartered accountant, and Ethel Frances née Smith. Hinshelwood's early education was at Westminster City School, before he went on to pursue chemistry at the University of Oxford, where he excelled as a student.

In 1927, Cyril Hinshelwood was appointed as a Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford. At this time, he began a period of significant scientific work that would contribute enormously to the development of chemical kinetics. His work included significant experiments and theories on the mechanisms of chemical reactions.

Cyril Hinshelwood published his influential book 'The Kinetics of Chemical Change' in 1935. This book became a foundational text for the study of chemical kinetics, detailing numerous mechanisms and theories about the rates at which chemical reactions occur. It solidified Hinshelwood's reputation as a leader in the field.

Hinshelwood was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1946 in recognition of his contributions to the field of chemistry. His acceptance into this prestigious society acknowledged his significant achievements and impact on chemical kinetics and reaction dynamics.

On October 10, 1956, Cyril Hinshelwood was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, shared with Nikolay Semyonov, for their research into the mechanism of chemical reactions. Their work notably covered the understanding of chain reactions, radically advancing the field of chemical kinetics.

In 1962, Hinshelwood published another significant work, 'The Structure of Physical Chemistry', which elaborated a deeper understanding of chemical processes and structures. This publication further established his essential role in the domain of chemical sciences.

In 1967, Cyril Hinshelwood was awarded the prestigious Naylor Prize in Applied Mathematics by the London Mathematical Society, reflecting his important contributions to the application of mathematics in chemical phenomena and theory.

Cyril Hinshelwood published his seminal work, 'Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Mechanisms', in 1971, which provides detailed insights into the understanding of complex reaction mechanisms. The comprehensive nature of this publication served as a crucial academic resource.

Sir Cyril Norman Hinshelwood passed away on October 9, 1974, in Oxford, England. His death marked the end of a significant era in chemical kinetics, where his work left a lasting legacy in the field. He was remembered for his impactful scientific contributions.