Here I present: Hermann Staudinger (1881-1965), “Macromolecular Chemistry”, NOBEL PRIZE LECTURE, 11 December 1953.
In 1920 Hermann Staudinger proposed the existence of polymers made up monomers. Hermann Staudinger was an Organic Chemist in 1929; and, a thousand (1×103gm per mole) was then large molecule. The idea of “macromolecules” with molecular weights of a million (1×106) was a historic proposal; and, today (a century later) we know the chromosomal DNA have molecular weights of a billion (1×109). Here I presented: Hermann Staudinger (1881-1965), “Macromolecular Chemistry”, NOBEL PRIZE LECTURE, 11 December 1953.
COMMENTS.
I present the table of “Classification of Macromolecular Substances” from the NOBEL PRIZE LECTURE given by Hermann Staudinger BELOW. This table consists of things essential to the way we live a century after 1920 when Hermann Staudinger proposed that they exist.
Table 1. Classification of Macromolecular Substances.
Part I. Substances Occurring in Nature.
- Hydrocarbons – rubber, guttapercha, balata.
- Polysaccharides – cellulose, starch, glycogen, mannan, pectin, polyuronic acid, chitins.
- Polynucleotides (nucleic acids – RNA & DNA).
- Proteins and Enzymes.
- Lignins and Tans. Part II. Conversion Products of Natural Substances.
Vulcanized rubber, rayon, cellophane, cellulose nitrate, leather, lanital, galalith, etcetera.
Part III. Synthetic Materials.
Plastics (polyplastics) formed by polymerization – buna, polystyrene, polymethacrylic esters, polycondensation – Bakelite, nylon, Perlon, Terylene, polyaddition – polyurethane.
