Homines scientiarum III - Třicet příběhů české vědy a filosofie + DVD – Grygarová Dominika (2016)

The third volume presents personalities from the field of chemistry. The first chapter is dedicated to inorganic chemist Bohuslav Brauner (1855–1935), who contributed to the global acceptance and improvement of Mendeleev's periodic table of elements. Organic chemistry is represented by Otto Wichterle (1913–1998) through the memories of his students. He was particularly known for the preparation and practical applications of modern plastics (contact lenses, implants, nylon). Wichterle's student and colleague, physical and theoretical chemist specializing in quantum chemistry and also a former chairman of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rudolf Zahradník (born 1928), shares stories about his research life. The generational continuity continues with a chapter about Zahradník's student, Josef Michl (born 1939), who works in the USA and also in Prague since 1989; he has contributed entirely new insights into the fields of physical organic, quantum, and theoretical chemistry. This is followed by the memories of physical chemist Michael Heyrovský (born 1932), who recounts stories about his father Jaroslav Heyrovský (1890–1967), a Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry for the discovery and development of polarography. The chapter on chemists concludes with Zdeněk Herman (born 1934), who discusses his scientific work in the field of physical chemistry and mass…