Izaak Kolthoff

Who was Izaak Kolthoff?

Izaak Maurits Kolthoff was a highly influential chemist, widely considered the Father of Analytical Chemistry. He was given this title based on his development of analytical chemistry as a modern science. His research dealt with analytical and physical chemistry. His main research topics included potentimetry, conductometry, polarography, theory and application of indicators, acid-base equilibria and titrations in aqueous and non-aqueous media, formation, properties and aging of precipitates, adsorption, coprecipitation, post-precipitation, and induced reactions. He is also credited in development of the polarograph, an instrument for recording polarization of electrolytes. During World War II he served as chairman of the Committee on Analytical research Methods and supervisor of three research projects for the U.S. Government on synethic or "cold process" rubber.

Dr. Kolthoff believed that fundamentals of physical chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmaceutical chemistry should also apply to analytical chemistry, and by doing so further developed the then artful analytical chemistry by applying these fundamentals to analytical processes. Motto:”Theory guides, experiment decides.”