Hans Goldschmidt
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Doctor Hans Goldschmidt (1861 - 1923) was a German chemist. He was a student of Robert Bunsen. His father, Theodor Goldschmidt, was the founder of the chemical company Chemische Fabrik Th. Goldschmidt which eventually became the modern company Degussa AG, and Hans and his brother Karl managed this company for many years. However he is principally noted as the inventor of thermite and co-inventor of sodium amalgam. The thermite (or aluminothermic) reaction is one in which aluminum metal is oxidized by an oxide of another metal, usually iron oxide. This process is used for welding and is used in incendiary devices. This process is sometimes called the "Goldschmidt reaction" or "Goldschmidt process," because he invented it in 1893 and patented it in 1895.
External link
- Article on Dr. H. Goldschmidt at Degussa AG's history site (http://www.degussa-history.com/geschichte/en/personalities/hans_goldschmidt.html)
