Overview
- This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access
- The only book on ammonia synthesis to place the discovery in the proper scientific context
- Brings together the exactness of science with the unpredictability of human nature
- Provides a complete description of the most important scientific discovery of the twentieth century
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About this book
This Open Access book discusses the progress of science and the transfer of scientific knowledge to technological application. It also identifies the factors necessary to achieve this progress. Based on a case study of the physical chemist Fritz Haber's discovery of ammonia synthesis between 1903 and 1909, the book places Haber's work in historical and scientific (physicochemical) context. The scientific developments of the preceding century are framed in a way that emphasizes the confluence of knowledge needed for Haber's success. Against this background, Haber's work is presented in detail along with the indispensable contributions of his colleague, the physical chemist, Walter Nernst, and their assistants. The detailed accounts of scientific advancement remind us of the physical basis on which our scientific theories and ideas are built. Without this reminder we often forget how complex, and how beautiful achievements in science can be.
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Keywords
Table of contents (22 chapters)
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Front Matter
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A Confluence of Factors
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Front Matter
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The Scientific Breakthrough
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Front Matter
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The Haze: A Theory for Breakthroughs in Science
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Front Matter
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Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Dr. Benjamin Johnson completed his Ph.D. in physics in 2010 at the Technische Universität Berlin with a thesis on thin layer solar cells investigated with X-ray spectroscopic methods. His later research focused on catalytic materials for alternative fuels. In 2015, Dr. Johnson began research in the field of science history, investigating progress in science and technological innovation. His work has resulted in a detailed portrayal of Fritz Haber’s discovery of ammonia synthesis in the first decade of the twentieth century. Continuing in the direction of scientific and technological development, Dr. Johnson is now applying these ideas to prospective technologies for the current energy transition. His approach combines the natural sciences with history and science communication to provide a roadmap for science-based governance incorporating voices from civil society
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Making Ammonia
Book Subtitle: Fritz Haber, Walther Nernst, and the Nature of Scientific Discovery
Authors: Benjamin Johnson
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85532-1
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: History, History (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2022
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-85531-4Published: 11 May 2022
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-85534-5Published: 11 May 2022
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-85532-1Published: 10 May 2022
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVI, 278
Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations
Topics: History of Science, Physical Chemistry