Fangxun Li
BornDecember 25, 1902
Yizheng, Jiangsu, Qing China
DiedAugust 2, 1962
Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
NationalityChinese
CitizenshipChinese
Alma materUniversity of Nanking (1925)
Northwestern University (1930)
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry, Physical Chemistry
InstitutionsNanjing University
Doctoral advisorWard V. Evans
Notable studentsChoh Hao Li

Fangxun Li (Chinese: 李方训; Fang-Hsuin Lee) (1902-1962) was a Chinese chemist, specializing in physical chemistry. He worked as a researcher, teacher, and administrator, and was the first vice president of Nanjing University after its merger with the University of Nanking in 1952.[1] He was one of the founding members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which was created in 1955.

Li got his bachelor's degree in 1925 from the University of Nanking. He then traveled to the United States and obtained his PhD in 1934 at Northwestern University.[2] He studied the influence of dipolar ions on the solubility of salts, molar polarization and radius-ratio of ions.[3][4][5]

Having returned to the University of Nanking in 1934, he invited Choh Hao Li, who had recently obtained his Bachelor degree, to collaborate on a project; this led to a paper in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and inspired Choh Hao Li to pursue graduate studies in the United States.[6][7]

He was given an honorary Degree (Doctor of Science) in 1948 by Northwestern University. The citation is:

Distinguished chemist, teacher, and administrator, who, after earning his doctorate at Northwestern University, returned to his alma mater, Nanking University, where he became successively chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. When invading armies engulfed his country he supervised the removal of the university to far western China where, under most trying conditions and with meager equipment, he carried on both teaching and research.[8]

His work was included in "Science Outpost", edited by Joseph Needham.[9][10]

Awards, honors and fellowships

References

  1. ^ "难忘恩师李方训". alumni.nju.edu.cn.
  2. ^ Evans, W. V.; Lee, F. H. (March 22, 1934). "Electrolysis of Ether Solutions of the Grignard Compound. Isolation, Identification and Quantitative Determination of Anodic Products". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 56 (3): 654–657. doi:10.1021/ja01318a035.
  3. ^ Lee, Fang-Hsuin; Luh, Li-Kwon (January 22, 1948). "The Influence of Dipolar Ions on the Solubility of Some Sparingly Soluble Salts". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 70 (1): 113–114. doi:10.1021/ja01181a032.
  4. ^ Lee, F. H. (June 22, 1945). "Molar Polarization and Radius-Ratio of Ions". Nature. 155 (3945): 698–699. Bibcode:1945Natur.155..698L. doi:10.1038/155698b0. S2CID 4071709.
  5. ^ Lee, F. H. (August 23, 1946). "Relation Between the Diamagnetic Susceptibilities of Ions in Solution and in the Crystalline State". Science. 104 (2695): 191. doi:10.1126/science.104.2695.191.a. PMID 17770704. S2CID 239561761.
  6. ^ Cole, R. David (1996). "Choh Hao Li" (PDF). Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences. 70: 223. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  7. ^ Evans, W. V.; Lee, F. H.; Lee, C. H. (March 23, 1935). "The Decomposition Voltage of Grignard Reagents in Ether Solution". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 57 (3): 489–490. doi:10.1021/ja01306a030.
  8. ^ Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill ) (May 23, 1948). "Annual commencement / Northwestern University". Evanston, Ill. : The University.
  9. ^ Brightman, R. (May 23, 1949). "Science Outpost". Nature. 163 (4149): 704. Bibcode:1949Natur.163..704B. doi:10.1038/163704a0. S2CID 4131451.
  10. ^ Needham, Joseph (May 23, 1948). "Science Outpost: Papers, 1942-1946".
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