Otto Ruff

Otto Ruff (December 30, 1871 - September 17, 1939) was a German chemist.

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Life

Otto Ruff was born in Schwäbisch Hall, near Stuttgart. After becoming an pharmacist under the supervision of Carl von Hell (known from the Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky halogenation) at the University of Stuttgart he joined the group of Hermann Emil Fischer at the University of Berlin. Fischer wass noted for his work on carbohydrates (sugars) and so Ruff started his career as organic chemist. In 1898 he published his work on the transformation of d-Glucose to d- Arabinose later called the Ruff degregation. Supported by Fischer Ruff became head of the new inorganic department in Berlin. This drastical change in subject benefitted Ruff and during his work on chlorides sulfur compounds. In 1902 he married Meta Richter a pharmacist, from this mariage he had three children. In 1904 he became professor at the University of Danzig and from 1916 he was head of the inorganic department at the University of Breslau. He died three year after his retirement in 1939.

Scientific achievements

Otto Ruff published 290 papers and two books. The books were: "The Chemistry of Fluorine" (published in 1920 by Springer Verlag, Berlin) and "Introduction to Chemical Practicum" (Leipzig 1926, 2nd edition 1937). His papers can be categorized as follows: chemistry of sugars (17 papers), inorganic chemistry of fluorine (86), high temperature chemistry (44), electrolysis of molten salts (9), plastics (10), carbides (20), explosions in mines (7), other fields of inorganic chemistry (72).^[1]

Along with Arrhenius, Henri Moissan, and Alfred Werner, all of whom received Nobel Prizes, O. Ruff was regarded as driver achievements of inorganic chemistry in first decades of 20 century.

See also

• Ruff degradation

References

1. ^ Website of the Technical University of Gdansk, http://siorpc12.chem.pg.gda.pl/?jezyk=english&co=historia_en.html

• W.Hückel (1940). "Obituary: Otto Ruff 30. 12. 1871 - 17. 9. 1939". Berichte der deutschen chemischen Gesellschaft 73 (12): A125 - A156. doi:10.1002/cber.19400731202.