Victor Moritz Goldschmidt - Essay Example

The family had a history of scientists and philosophers from Victor's fathers and mother's side. In 1914, he became the Professor and Director at Mineralogical Institute of Oslo, when he was offered this position. He worked in this position till 1929. After this he moved to Gttingen. The first important contribution made by him was in the field of geology and mineralogy. Goldschmidt went into geochemistry after the death of raw material in World War 1. The general studies that he carried out marked the beginning of modern geochemistry.

His work, Geochemical Laws of the Distribution of the Elements, volume 8 in 1923-38, laid the foundation of inorganic crystal chemistry. (Biography.com) According to Goldschmidt, "The primary purpose of geochemistry is on the one hand to determine quantitatively the composition of the earth and its parts, and on the other to discover the laws which control the distribution of the individual elements."(Bob Weintraub) His doctorate thesis, 'Die hpontaktmetamorphose im Kristianiagebiet' and 'Geologisch-petro-graphische Studien im Hochgebirge des siidlichen Norwegens,' are known as his first two major works.

The first publications for geochemistry were 'Geo-chemische Verteilungsgesetze der Elemente.' These were a series of publications under this title. In 1921, he was able to show an electrical balance between the positive and negative ions using an X-ray crystallography. These ions are the most important factor in crystal structure. Goldschmidt's work on the cosmic abundance of the elements and the links between isotopic stability and abundance was led by the analysis of geochemistry, astrophysics and nuclear physics.

In 1935, Goldschmidt moved to Norway because of the rise of Nazism. When World War II started Goldschmidt had to move again. He went to Sweden first and then Britain. In Britain he worked in the field of soil science and once the war ended he returned back to Norway. At the time of the war, Goldschmidt always carried a cyanide capsule with him just in case he was caught. According to Goldschmidt cyanide was for chemists, while rope was for mechanical engineers. (Msn Encarta)Goldschmidt got a doctoral fellowship at the age of 21 from the University and a Norwegian doctor's degree when he was 23 years old.

There have not been many people who have done this. He did not even have to take the usual exams or degrees to achieve these levels. The Norwegian doctor's degree is usually received after the age of 30 and some people have received it after the age of 50. Thus, it was a big achievement. Goldschmidt won the noblest scientific award 'Fridtjof Nansens belonning,' in 1912, for his work 'Die Kontaktmetamorphose im Kristiania-gebiet.' When he applied for a Professorship in Stockholm, the University was able to give him the same position.

This was a special case because the Norwegian University does not offer a position until two years have passed since the appointment. Goldschmidt identified the main difference between geochemical elements of geological evolution. He out them into four groups: 'siderophile, chalcophile, lithophile, and atmophile'. He also identified the fact that the earth and the meteorites have a common origin. He developed the Mineralogical Phase Rule;