Xu Guangxian
Encyclopedia
Xu Guangxian is a Chinese
chemist
and academician of Chinese Academy of Science. He is former president of Chinese Chemical Society, and known as "The Father of Chinese Rare Earths Chemistry".
and Zhejiang University of Technology
), then he entered Jiaotong University in Shanghai
(now known as Shanghai Jiaotong University), and received B.S in 1944. 1944-1946, he was a technician in a chemical company in Shanghai.
Xu went to USA in 1948, studied in the graduate school of the Washington University in St. Louis
from Jan to Jun. 1948-1951, he studied at the Columbia University
in New York
, and received M.S. in 1949 and PhD
in 1951 (under C. D. Beckmann). 1949 Feb, he became a member of Phi Lamda Upsilon. 1950 Oct, he became a member of Sigma Xi
.
1951, he went back to China
with his wife Gao Xiaoxia - also a chemist. In the same year, he became the associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, Peking University
. Soon later he was promoted to be a full professor. He became a dean of the department in 1956, and especially directed the department of radiation chemistry. Xu also was involved in the Chinese nuclear weapon development program, within which he played a role in separating and extracting the nuclear elements, especially Uranium-235
.
In 1969 Xu and his wife were accused of being spies for the former Kuomintang
government and sent to a labor camp until 1972.
Xu played an important role in the chemistry of rare earths in China. He systematically studied the chemical and physical properties of the rare earths found in China and developed several methods to separate and extract them. Xu also has an important career in Chinese chemical industry.
Jan 2009, Xu received the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award
from the President Hu Jintao
.
In September, Science
News Focus on China's rare earth industry and its worldwide influence, and Xu's significant contributions.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and academician of Chinese Academy of Science. He is former president of Chinese Chemical Society, and known as "The Father of Chinese Rare Earths Chemistry".
Life
He studied in several schools in Zhejiang (now known as Zhejiang UniversityZhejiang University
Zhejiang University , sometimes referred to as Zheda, is a national university in China. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education...
and Zhejiang University of Technology
Zhejiang University of Technology
Zhejiang University of Technology is located in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It is considered one of the top industrial universities in mainland China and the second largest university in Zhejiang Province after the most comprehensive university - Zhejiang University.Engineering,...
), then he entered Jiaotong University in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
(now known as Shanghai Jiaotong University), and received B.S in 1944. 1944-1946, he was a technician in a chemical company in Shanghai.
Xu went to USA in 1948, studied in the graduate school of the Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
from Jan to Jun. 1948-1951, he studied at the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and received M.S. in 1949 and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1951 (under C. D. Beckmann). 1949 Feb, he became a member of Phi Lamda Upsilon. 1950 Oct, he became a member of Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
.
1951, he went back to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
with his wife Gao Xiaoxia - also a chemist. In the same year, he became the associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
. Soon later he was promoted to be a full professor. He became a dean of the department in 1956, and especially directed the department of radiation chemistry. Xu also was involved in the Chinese nuclear weapon development program, within which he played a role in separating and extracting the nuclear elements, especially Uranium-235
Uranium-235
- References :* .* DOE Fundamentals handbook: Nuclear Physics and Reactor theory , .* A piece of U-235 the size of a grain of rice can produce energy equal to that contained in three tons of coal or fourteen barrels of oil. -External links:* * * one of the earliest articles on U-235 for the...
.
In 1969 Xu and his wife were accused of being spies for the former Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
government and sent to a labor camp until 1972.
Xu played an important role in the chemistry of rare earths in China. He systematically studied the chemical and physical properties of the rare earths found in China and developed several methods to separate and extract them. Xu also has an important career in Chinese chemical industry.
Jan 2009, Xu received the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award
State Preeminent Science and Technology Award
Started in 2000, The State Preeminent Science and Technology Award of China is the highest prize annually awarded by the state president to scientists in China...
from the President Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
.
In September, Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
News Focus on China's rare earth industry and its worldwide influence, and Xu's significant contributions.
Membership, etc
- Academician, Chinese Academy of Science, 1980 election
- Former president, Chinese Chemical Society (CCS)
- Vice-president, Chinese Society of Rare Earths (CSRE)
- Editor-in-Chief, Rare Earths (a 3-volume monograph on the science and technology of rare earths in China), Metallurgical Industry Press, BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, 1995 - Editor-in-chief, Journal of Rare Earths