Sir William Ramsay

Sir William Ramsay 1852-1916, Scottish chemist. He was professor of chemistry at University College, Bristol (1880-87), and at University College, London (1887-1912). In his early experiments he showed that the alkaloids are related to pyridine, which he synthesized (1876) from acetylene and prussic acid. He then turned to inorganic and physical chemistry. Investigating the inert gases of the atmosphere, he discovered helium; with Rayleigh he discovered argon, and with M. W. Travers, krypton, neon, and xenon. He also carried on research on radium emanation. In 1902 he was knighted. For his work on gases he received the 1904 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His writings include System of Inorganic Chemistry (1891) and Essays Biographical and Chemical (1908).

Bibliography: See biography by M. W. Travers (1956).

Ramsay, Sir William (1852–1916) Scottish chemist. Working with Lord Rayleigh, he discovered argon in air. Later, he discovered helium, neon, and krypton. He was knighted in 1902, and awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1904.

Ramsay, Sir William (1852–1916). Chemist. Ramsay was born in Glasgow and educated at Glasgow University. He developed an interest in chemistry, and studied in Germany. Appointed to the staff at Glasgow in 1874, he moved to Bristol in 1880 to take the chair of chemistry and became principal in 1881. From 1887 until his retirement in 1912 he was professor at University College, London. Ramsay's greatest discoveries were of the inert gases argon, helium, neon, krypton, and xenon.