What Does an Inorganic Chemist Do?

Gao Chongxi (1901-1952), a Chinese inorganic chemist and chemistry educator; his research work covers the fields of inorganic synthesis and analysis, organic synthesis and analysis, and chemical production; Professor Gao Chongxi has outstanding achievements in the study of inorganic synthesis, and he has successfully developed Hard glass has laid the technical foundation for Beijing Glass Factory in this respect, ending the history of China's complete dependence on imported foreign hard glass chemistry experimental instruments; he attaches importance to the combination of experimental technology and teaching to cultivate a batch of chemical talents for China . In order to run the chemistry department well, he invited experts to teach every major course, so that students can learn from the best of the family, without any insights. He devoted all his energy to the construction of the chemistry pavilion, often sleeping and forgetting. He has made great contributions to the development of the Chemistry Department of Tsinghua University.

Gao Chongxi

(Chinese Inorganic Chemist, Chemistry Educator)

Gao Chongxi (1901-1952), China Inorganic

Born on September 14, 1901 in Jinan, Shandong Province.

From 1919 to 1922, he studied at the Tsinghua Overseas American Preparatory School.

From 1922 to 1926, he studied chemistry in the Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, and obtained a doctorate degree.

From 1926 to 1937, he was a professor and head of the Department of Chemistry at Tsinghua University, and a professor at the Department of Chemistry at Peking University.

From 1938 to 1946, he was a professor in the Department of Chemistry of Southwest United University.

From 1946 to 1950, he was professor and head of the Department of Chemistry at Tsinghua University, and concurrently professor of the Department of Chemistry at Peking University.

From 1950 to 1952, he served as the director of Beijing Xinhua Reagent Research Institute.

He died of suicide in Beijing on February 12, 1952.

1 V. Lenher, C. H. Kao. The separation of selenium and tellurium by sulfur dioxide in hydrochloric acid Solution. J. Am. Chem. Soe. , 1925, 47: 769-772.

2 V. Lenher, C. H. Kao. The preparation of selenium monochloride and monobromide. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1925, 47: 772-774.

3 V. Lenher, C. H. Kao. The preparation of Selenic acid and certainselenates. J. Am. Chem. SoS. , 1925, 47: 1521-1522.

4 V. Lenher, C. H. Kao. The Separation of selenium and tellurium. J. Am. Chem. Soc. , 1925, 47: 2454-2461.

5 V. Lenher, C. H. Kao. Some properties of Selenium monochloride. J. Am. Chem. Soc. , 1925, 48: 1550-1556.

6 V. Lenher, C. H. KaO. Studies on the Chemistry of gold. J. Phys. Chem. , 1926, 30: 126129.

7 C. H. Kao, ShaO-yuanMa. The Perparation of benzamide. J. Chem. Soc. , 1930, 2: 2788.

8 Gao Chongxi, Ma Shaoyuan. The preparation of aromatic acid amides. Science Report of National Tsinghua University, 1931, A (1): 17-24.

9 Peter P. T. Sah, Shao-yuan Ma, C. H. Kao. Ester of orthopheny-lacetic acid. J. Chem. Soc. , 1931, 1: 305-307.

10 C. H. Kao, Shao-yuan Ma. The perparation of aromaticacidandamides. J. Chem. Soc. , 1931, 1: 443444.

11 C. H. Kao, Shao-yuan Ma. The preparation of n-decoic acid. J. Chem. Soc. , 1931, 2: 2046-2047.

12 Gao Chongxi and Ma Shaoyuan. Synthesis from the Chinese castor oi1. Science Report of National Tsinghua University, 1932, A (1): 129-134.

13 Gao Chongxi. Ma Shaoyuan. The simple constants of the higher aliphatic alco-hols. Science Report of National Tsinghua University, 1932, A (1): 181-383.

14 Gao Chongxi and Yan Renyin. The identification of aldehydes and primary alcohols by dimethyldihydroresorcinol. Science Report of National Tsinghua University, 1932, A (1): 185188.

15 Gao Chongxi and Zhang Qinglian. Compounds of bivalent metallic selenates with aniline. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 1933, 1: 116119.

16 Gao Chongxi and Zhang Qinglian. The detection of rhenium in Noyes and Bray's sys-tem of qualitative analysis. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 1934, 2: 6-12.

17 Gao Chongxi and Zhang Weishen. Preparation of pure normal heptane. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society. 1934, 2: 1820.

18 Gao Chongxi and Yan Renyin. Preparation of capryl alcohol and methyl hexyl Ketone. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 1934, 2: 2131.

19 Gao Chongxi. Chen Guangxu. Preparation of malonic ester. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 1934, 2: 173-174.

20 Gao Chongxi, Yan Renyin, Qian Siliang. Dehydration of acid amides to nitriles. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 1934, 2: 240-242.

21 Gao Chongxi and Chen Guangxu. p-Homosalicylic aldoxime as a reagent for copper. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 1935, 3: 22-26.

22 Wang Ximin, Gao Zhenheng, Gao Chongxi, and Sa Bentie. p-Bromo-benzhydrazide as areagent for the identification of aldehydes and Ketone. Science Report of National Tsinghua University, 1935, A (3): 279-283.

23 Dong Wenli, Gao Zhenheng, Gao Chongxi, and Sa Bentie. m-Nitro-benzoyl iso-thio-cyanate as a reagent for the identification of amines. Science Report of National Tsinghua University, 1935, A (3): 285-289.

24 Gao Chongxi, Gao Zhenheng, Yu Changwu, Sa Bentie. o-Bromo-benzhydrazide as a reagent for the identification of aldehydes and ketones. National Tsinghua University Science Report, 1936, A (3): 555-560.

25 Gao Chongxi, Tao Duange, Gao Zhenheng, Sa Bentie. m-Bromo-benzhydrazide as a reagent for the identification of aldehydes and ketones. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 1936, 4: 69-74.

26 Sa Bentie, Wang Ximin, Gao Chongxi. Research on semi-carbezides: IV. m-tolyl-semi-carbazide as a reagent for the identification of aldehydes and Ketones. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 1936, 4: 187192.

27 Sa Bentie, Gao Chongxi, Wang Ximin. Research on azides: VI. p-Bromo-ben-zazide as a reagent for the identification of primary and seeondary amines. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 1936, 4: 193-197.

28 Gao Chongxi and Chen Guangxu. Preparation of malonic ester. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society, 1937, 5: 223.

29 Gao Chongxi, Zhang Qinglian, Solubilities of cupric Selenates from 0 ° to 40 . Science Report of National Tsinghua University, 1940, A (4): 155-158.

Author: Yang Jiang (famous writer, Mr. Ms. Qian Zhongshu)

Mr. Gao is a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Tsinghua University. Everyone admits that he has a good business, but says that he has a bad temper and is difficult to get along. Mrs. Gao is sociable, so although our couple is not sociable, we have some contact with them. We found that Mr. Gao's temper was not bad, and he fit him well.

Around 1950, a chemical plant was established near Tsinghua, with Mr. Gao as the plant manager. The couple moved into the factory and lived in humble office-like dormitories. Our couple has visited his new home twice.

The autumn of 1951, a Sunday, was a fine and sunny autumn. We were suddenly happy and wanted to go for a walk. I remember Mrs. Gao sent me flowers, but I haven't thanked her yet. We stepped out of the South School gate, crossed the wheat field, and went to the chemical plant. At that time, the Three Anti-Motion Movement had been launched in society, but it had not yet been transformed into an ideological transformation movement. The intellectuals in the school thought they had nothing to do with them and didn't care much.

We entered the factory, weaved and turned, and reached the Gao's apartment. Mrs. Gao entered the city. Only Mr. Gao was in the family. He was sitting alone in the guest room, which was like a classroom and an office. He seemed to be surprised by our visit and was not welcome. He reluctantly asked us to sit, took two dirty glasses, and poured us two and a half cups of thermos with water and alkali at the bottom. He smiled reluctantly, and he only paid us twice. I don't think it's time to come and can't sit still, so we say we are passing by, look at them by the way, and go elsewhere. We got up and left.

Mr. Gao did not stay, but he diligently sent us out: out of the guest hall, out of the corridor, out of the yard, and straight out. We asked him to stay. He just wanted to deliver it to the gate of the factory. I remember a gatekeeper standing at the gate. He stood beside the man and watched us go far away.

We both walked into the wheat field.

I said, "He doesn't seem to welcome us."

"not welcome."

"So I dare not sit more."

"It's time to go."

I said, "He probably has something, let's bother him."

"No, he's fine, he just sits like that."

"Not reading?"

"I saw him sitting there, not reading, and doing nothing."

"Oh, maybe he has a bad mood because of sports."

"I asked about the movement in their factory, and he said it was fine, it was almost over."

"I think he wants us to leave."

"But he gave it away."

That's right. He was almost reluctant to resent, not like he hated us. I said, "Maybe he's slow and we're sorry again."

"He wasn't slow either. Besides, wouldn't he just leave the yard?"

The two of us cleverly fumbled and fumbled, always wondering. He wasn't cold or stern, he just smiled so reluctantly and so strangely. It's weird! There is no other word to describe.

One day later, on Tuesday morning, news came that Mr. Gao of the chemical plant committed suicide yesterday. It is said that Mrs. Gao and some female workers in the factory cooked the Lantern Festival in the reception room on Monday morning during work breaks, and returned to the bedroom next door to see Mr. Gao fell on the bed, his face turned black, he took cyanic acid.

When we saw him, he was thinking about it. Or you have made up your mind, so you have to put your wife into the city.

In hindsight, from receiving us to sending us out of the factory gate, he all explained that this was a natural thing, and only hated us for being confused and not understanding in time.

The wrongdoings are now being implemented one by one. After Mr. Gao committed suicide, Mrs. Gao died one after another. How many years have passed, who remembers them? On the eve of Mr. Gao's suicide, it was probably only our couple who bumped into him.

September 1, 1988