Yue Heng, physicist and educator. Engaged in complex optical research and physics teaching all his life. In the application research of optical rotation in physical chemistry, the continuous variation method of P. Juebu was developed, and the composition and stability of tartrate metal ion complexes were studied, which opened up a new way for the optical study of complexes. This work continued in the 1950s, broadening the research field of complex optics. It has trained several generations of scientific talents for China and made important contributions to the construction and development of Northwest University.

Chinese name: Yue Heng

Nationality: China.

Ethnic group: Han nationality

Place of Birth: Chang 'an County, Shaanxi Province

Date of birth:1902165438+1October 20th.

Date of death:1961May 24th.

Occupation: physicist, educator

Graduate school: Peking University.

Representative work: Optical study of copper tartaric acid complex.

brief introduction

Yue Heng, born in Lou Wu, Lu Wu,1October 29th, was born in a scholarly family in Chang 'an County, Shaanxi Province (now xi City). Father Yue Shaonong, mainly engaged in education. Yue _ Heng studied under his father's strict requirements since childhood and loved Chinese, arithmetic, physics and chemistry. 19 18, studying in Xi' an No.3 middle school, with excellent academic performance, especially in arithmetic, physics and chemistry, English and other courses, ranking first in the whole school for eight consecutive semesters. 1922 was admitted to the physics department of Peking University. Influenced by Li Zizhou, Wei Yechou and other progressive students, he joined the political group organized by students studying in Beijing in Shaanxi, accepted progressive ideas and actively participated in various progressive student activities. 1926, * * * was destroyed and dissolved by warlords, so he was arrested and escaped death after hiding in the Japanese concession in Tianjin. At that time, he deeply felt the darkness and depression of politics. Due to his father's persuasion, he gave up political activities, believed in saving the country through science, embarked on the road of academic research, and continued to study at Peking University. 1928, graduated from Peking University with a bachelor's degree.

While studying in Peking University, he was influenced by Professor Li Shuhua, head of the Department of Physics, and decided to study in France after graduation. 65438-0928 studied at the University of Paris, France, and obtained a master's degree from 65438-0932. Later, he worked in the Institute of Physics of the University of Paris for 4 years, preparing his doctoral thesis, and 1936 obtained the doctor of science degree in France.

1936 After Heng Yue returned to China, he first worked as a researcher at the Institute of Physics of Beijing Research Institute and concurrently served as a professor at China-France University. 1937, when the Japanese invaded North China, he resolutely refused to serve the Japanese puppet army and resigned and returned to Shaanxi. 1937 10 went to Xi 'an Temporary University (1938 was renamed Northwest United University, and in July it was renamed National Northwest University, 1939) as a professor of physics. In August, 194 1 served as the dean of the physics department of Northwest University, 10,1947,65438 served as the provost of Northwest University until the establishment of People's Republic of China (PRC).

During this period, Heng Yue contributed to the protection and development of Northwest University. 1948, prices soared, and students' "public expenses" could not maintain their lives. Therefore, Heng Yue was appointed by the headmaster to negotiate with the Ministry of Education of Nanjing government. After negotiation, he forced the government to improve the students' food standards, thus stabilizing the students' mood and school order. At the end of 1948, a struggle was launched on the campus of Northwest University. Some people in the Anappeasement Office headed by Hu Zongnan and Northwest University advocated moving the school to Sichuan, inciting some teachers and students to make trouble; And China * * * underground party as the core progressive forces, resolutely opposed to moving. In this fierce struggle, Yang, president of Yue Ganges, took measures to deal with Hu Zongnan and his representatives who came to supervise the relocation, resisted the relocation order, protected the property of Northwest University, and completely returned Northwest University to the people.

After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), Yue Heng continued to teach at Northwest University, and successively served as the head of the Department of Physics, the provost, the acting chairman of the school committee, and the vice president, and contributed his whole life to the construction and development of Northwest University. At the same time, he has served as a deputy to Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, a member of the Second Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a deputy to the Second National People's Congress. From 1950, he was elected as the director of the Chinese Physical Society, the chairman of the Xi 'an branch of the All-China Federation of Natural Science Specialized Societies, and the chairman of the Xi 'an branch of the Chinese Physical Society. 1958 after the establishment of China association for science and technology, he was elected as vice chairman of Shaanxi association for science and technology and chairman of Shaanxi physics society. 196 1 passed away in Xi 'an on May 24th.

Optical study of chromium complex

Heng Yue's research work in France for 9 years is mainly about the application of optical activity in physical chemistry, and studies the composition and stability of tartrate metal ion complexes with optical activity.

1926, P. Juebu first proposed the continuous change method, and applied this method to the study of the complex composed of cadmium sulfate and potassium iodide. The physical characteristic chosen is the absorption coefficient. In the same year, E. Darmois applied the continuous variational method to the study of the complex composed of boric acid and tartaric acid, and the physical properties of the selected complex were optical rotation. At that time, metal complexes attracted the attention of physicists and chemists. However, it is very difficult to study metal complexes because some metal complexes are not easy to obtain. There are only a few known solid complexes, and their structures are almost unknown. Under this background, Heng Yue started from 1932, under the guidance of Professor E. Damova, engaged in the research of metal complexes of tartaric acid with metal ions. In the research work, Heng Yue developed the continuous variation method proposed by P. Juebu, and it was widely used in the research of tartaric acid and its derivative compounds and metallic elements such as boron, tungsten, copper, aluminum, thorium and antimony. The changes of optical rotation of these complexes in solution were determined, so as to study the composition and stability of these complexes and their effects on the optical rotation of tartaric acid and tartrate. The crystal structures of some tartaric acid derivatives were also studied. In his research work, he found the research methods of optical rotation of hydrofluoric acid etching glass and alkaline solution etching aluminum and its alloys. The characteristics of these two inventions are that the corrosion resistance of glass to hydrofluoric acid and the corrosion degree of alkaline solution to aluminum and its alloys can be quickly determined by observing the change of optical rotation without gravimetric analysis. This optical rotation research method is simple and practical, and it is the most advanced measurement method at that time.

During the nine years of research, he wrote more than 10 papers. His research results are embodied in his doctoral thesis "Composition of Several Tartaric Acid Complexes and Their Experimental Studies in Physical Chemistry", published in the French Journal of Physical Chemistry No.33, 1936. The above research results he made at that time had a high academic level. He was one of the earliest founders who applied polarimetry to the study of metal complexes. The research method he created has been widely popularized and applied, and has become one of the widely used methods for scholars at home and abroad to study the molecular structure of complexes. Therefore, his research work has had a certain influence in the world. He created a new method of applying rotary optics to the study of complex optics.

1936, Heng Yue returned to China, and originally planned to continue the research on optical activity, but it was not realized due to the outbreak of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. 1956, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China called for "marching into science", and he decided to "return to his old job", resume the complicated optical research work that was interrupted for many years, and make new contributions in the academic field. He organized some teachers from the department of physics and chemistry to cooperate with each other, personally guide graduate students, pool everyone's wisdom and carry out research work. He insisted that scientific research topics should serve economic construction and scientific and technological progress and solve urgent problems in production practice. Using the principle of continuous change, they studied the optical properties of colloidal complexes of tungsten oxide and tartaric acid, complexes of tartaric acid and its salts with ferric chloride, and complexes of copper, nickel, diamond and tartaric acid. Not only the change of optical rotation, but also the optical density, absorbance and refractive index were measured, and the circular dichroism effect (cotton effect) was studied. The composition ratio and existence conditions of these complexes were determined. The strength comparison of several acids in colloidal complexes was obtained by optical rotation method, which proved that the optical rotation method was simpler than the commonly used statics method. It is also proved by polarimetry that the complex ion composed of iron and tartaric acid has two carboxyl groups. From 1955- 196 1, they have written eight papers and published them in Journal of Northwest University (Natural Science Edition) and Abstracts of Papers of Chinese Physical Society 1963 (Optics and Spectroscopy). His academic achievement in this period is to broaden the field of complex optics research and open up a unique and systematic road of complex optics research.

From 65438 to 0959, when Professor Xu Guangxian, a physical chemist, published an article summarizing the research work in chemistry and chemical engineering, he spoke highly of Heng Yue's research work and thought that their research on complexes was systematic. Undoubtedly, Heng Yue's research work has laid a foundation for domestic counterparts to study metal complexes.

For vocational trainers

After returning from France, Heng Yue has been engaged in physics teaching in colleges and universities. Northwest University was rebuilt in the bonfire of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. The physics department has poor teaching conditions, insufficient teachers and lack of ready-made teaching materials. In this case, Yue Heng first paid attention to the construction of teaching materials, and made use of his expertise in English and French to consult a variety of foreign teaching materials and compiled more than ten kinds of lectures on theoretical mechanics, heat, optics and modern physics, which solved the difficulties of teaching and learning for teachers and students. Almost all the courses that no one can teach in the physics department are taught by him, and he has taught 14 courses successively. He believes that students should learn basic theories well and lay a foundation for further study or research. He pays attention to the explanation of basic concepts when giving lectures, and sometimes does demonstration experiments in class to help students understand the lecture content and master the basic concepts and principles. He also asked students to pay attention to physics experiment classes, master experimental skills and cultivate practical ability. When giving lectures, he also pays attention to key points, difficulties and methods. Even abstruse courses such as atomic physics and wave mechanics, after his vivid narration, students find it easy to understand. When students feel incomprehensible about the method of exploring the micro-world, they will ask: Why are there so many assumptions? Why can we use the result of hypothesis derivation to prove the correctness of hypothesis? He replied, suppose there is a black house, and we can't see or know what's in it. However, the house has a small window into which we can throw some stones. If there are various musical instruments in it, we will infer that there is a drum in a certain direction from the echo of the drum and a gong in a certain direction from the echo of the gong. By analogy, we can infer what is in this invisible black house. This metaphor still reverberates in the minds of students at that time. He also put the education of scientific methods throughout the whole teaching process, telling students the importance of scientific research methods.

In the work of teaching and educating people, Sue is famous for her diligent, rigorous and realistic attitude towards learning and tireless moral character. He has always been serious and responsible for teaching. No matter how much administrative work and social activities, he always insists on preparing lessons carefully and never arrives late or leaves early. The lecture is clear and focused, which is easy for students to accept and understand deeply. He is strict with himself and students. He not only cares about students' professional study, but also gives them ideological education. He educated and edified several generations with extensive knowledge, rigorous style of study and tireless teaching spirit.

Construction and development of Northwest University

According to the needs of national construction and the laws of education, Heng Yue has contributed to the construction and development of Northwest University.

Make professional settings

Heng Yue believes that the specialty setting of colleges and universities should actively create conditions to meet the needs of the country according to the priority needs of national construction for all kinds of talents and the characteristics of the regions where each school is located. At the same time, according to the development direction and regional characteristics of each school, an appropriate division of labor is carried out nationwide. In the adjustment of departments from 1952 to 1953, the Ministry of Higher Education plans to merge the Department of Literature, History, Finance and Geography of Northwest University into Lanzhou University. Yue Heng studied this problem with other school leaders and put forward different opinions to the Ministry of Higher Education. According to the orientation and function of a comprehensive university, Northwest University should keep the departments and majors of literature, history, finance and economics. According to the task of soil and water conservation and radical treatment of the Yellow River in northwest China, and Xi is located in the center of the Loess Plateau and the center of the upper and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the existence of geographical system is necessary. The Ministry of Higher Education finally agreed with them, thus maintaining the integrity of the departments and majors of Northwest University and laying the foundation for the development of Northwest University into a comprehensive university. Later, he made a concrete analysis of the situation in northwest China, especially in Shaanxi Province, and made a comprehensive plan and arrangement for the specialty setting of Northwest University. On the basis of stabilizing the original specialties of most departments, he added botany specialty of biology department, natural geography specialty of geography department and petroleum geology specialty of geology department, which made the specialty setting of Northwest University more in line with the needs of national construction.

Put forward clear training requirements

In the 1940s, when Heng Yue worked in Northwest University, he advocated that students should not only learn professional courses well, but also care about the future and destiny of the country, and set up the idea of patriotism, serving the country and saving the country. In 1950s, according to the Party's principles and policies, he clearly proposed to train enough outstanding scientific workers who are loyal to the socialist cause, enthusiastic about serving the people and proficient in modern science and technology. In comprehensive universities and other institutions of higher learning, it is necessary to cultivate qualified talents who can think independently and have the ability to analyze and solve problems. He believes that students studying physics must be "clear-headed, strong-willed and have a good mathematical foundation." These training requirements put forward by him have been implemented in the teaching plans and work of various departments, which has enabled Northwest University to train a large number of qualified talents loyal to the socialist cause for the country.

Shortly after the founding of the People's Republic of China, he wrote: "We should attach importance to all kinds of sciences as a whole and take care of the needs of the country and society. We should encourage and sponsor them more, but we should not despise theoretical science. Without the development of theoretical science, applied science cannot develop at all. We don't object to most young people studying natural science, but we must encourage the same majority of young people to study social science; Sponsor most young people interested in natural science to study applied science, but we must leave some determined and clear-headed young people to study theoretical science. It is necessary for the country in the next hundred years. " This is his correct view on the dialectical relationship between immediate interests and long-term interests in national construction, which has reference significance for future generations.

Attach importance to teacher training

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, one of the main difficulties in the development of Northwest University is the lack of teachers. Other leaders of Guangdong Henghe School used their position and influence to invite famous professors and scholars to teach or give lectures at the school. In the physics department, he hired Professor Tian Qu to teach in the school, and also hired He to give lectures in the school. 1953 or so, he felt that the teachers in the school were insufficient and the professional level was low, which could not meet the requirements of the new teaching plan. Therefore, teacher training is an important task for the future development of the school's teaching work, and long-term planning must be made. He asked all departments to "make overall planning within the whole school, consider the development prospects in three to five years, and make teacher training plans for all departments." He put forward that the cultivation and improvement of teachers must rely on the principles of self-reliance and on-campus training, and the method of combining the two training methods inside and outside the school. On campus, he advocates experienced old teachers to lead lecturers and teaching assistants to learn business courses; Outside school, he advocates sending promising young teachers out for further study. His views and measures on teacher training have played a very good role in the construction of teachers in Northwest University. Many teachers trained at that time later became the backbone of the development of various departments.

be self-reliant

Another major difficulty encountered in the progress of Northwest University is the lack of experimental instruments and equipment, which has affected the opening of experimental courses. To solve this problem, Heng Yue actively supports and advocates schools to set up factories to produce and maintain their own instruments and equipment in order to meet the needs of experimental teaching. For example, in the early days of the People's Republic of China, there was only one set of instruments for general physics experiments in the Department of Physics, which could not meet the needs of teaching at all. With his support, Professor Long Jiyun set up a small machinery factory and hired three or four workers to make experimental instruments, which increased the number of instruments in each subject in general physics experiments from one to five, meeting the teaching needs. This story of self-made experimental instruments was commended by the Ministry of Higher Education 1954.

Conduct scientific research

Heng Yue thinks that universities should correctly handle the relationship between teaching and scientific research. He emphasized that without scientific research, the quality of teaching in colleges and universities could not be improved. In colleges and universities, teachers should first complete teaching tasks and at the same time conduct scientific research. These two tasks are complementary, not contradictory. The contradiction between teaching and scientific research is only temporary and partial. The problem lies in the reasonable arrangement of teachers' strength. According to the composition of teachers at that time, he put forward the specific arrangements for all kinds of teachers to participate in scientific research, and together with the comrades of the Academic Affairs Office, made a careful plan for the scientific research work of the whole school. He also set an example by taking time out of his busy administrative and social work to engage in scientific research, which promoted the development of scientific research in Northwest University and contributed to improving the academic level of Northwest University.

When Heng Yue was young, he pursued progress and loved his motherland. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he supported the leadership of the China Producer Party, studied the Party's principles and policies seriously, and took an active part in various political activities. It is particularly worth mentioning that he has a profound understanding of the party's cultural policies. He once wrote: "the form of national culture should selectively absorb western culture according to the current and future needs of our country, take the essence of its application and discard the dross of its inapplicability." For natural sciences, we should absorb most of them, and for social sciences, we should choose and modify them according to China's national conditions and social reality. It is absolutely impossible to completely westernize, and at the same time, we must respect our own literature. " 1959 65438+February, joined the China * * * production party.

Yue _ Heng worked hard all his life, often forgot to eat and sleep, and even had little rest on holidays, which led to overwork. 196 1 February, the doctor diagnosed him with serious cardiovascular disease, but he still kept working despite his illness. On May 24 of the same year, when he was speaking at the enlarged meeting of Northwest University, he suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage and died after all-out rescue. Professor Zhou Peiyuan wrote in his message of condolence: "This is a great loss for the education and physics circles. 12 since liberation, Comrade Heng has worked hard for people's education and physics, and has made remarkable achievements. He set a good example for intellectuals. "

biographical notes

1902165438+1was born in Chang 'an County, Shaanxi Province on October 29th.

1922 ——1928 graduated from the Department of Science Foundation and Physics of Peking University.

1928- 1936 went to study at the University of Paris, France, 1932 received a master's degree, and 1936 received a doctor of science degree from France.

1936- 1937, a researcher at the Institute of Physics, Peking Research Institute, and concurrently a professor at China-France University.

1937 ——1939xi Professor of Temporary University and Northwest United University.

1939 to 1949, professor of northwest university; From 194 1, he is also the head of the physics department; From 1947, he is also the provost.

1949 ——1961served as professor, dean of physics department and provost of northwest university. 1949 ——1950 served as the acting chairman of the school committee. 1957 ——1961year as vice president.

196 1 passed away in Xi 'an on May 24th.

Main thesis

1 Guangdong _ Heng. Melted Na2SO4? 10H2O and CaCl2? Determination of molecular weight of 6H2O freezing point. Northwest Academic, 1943 (2): 54.

Heng Yue. Study on optical rotation of methyl tartrate. Northwest Academic, 1943 (2): 55.

3. Study on the optical rotation of Heng Yue. Biot-Wagner complex. Northwest Academic, 1943 (2): 55-56.

4 Heng Yue. Transformation of colloidal composition of tungsten tartrate and tungsten monoxide under the influence of strong acid: comparison of several acid strengths. Journal of Northwest University, 1957,1(1):157-159.

5 Yue Heng, Yang,. Optical study on the complex of copper and tartaric acid. Journal of Northwest University, 1957,1(1):160-170.

Heng Yue, Shi Li and Liu Yuanfa. Comparative study on polarimetry and potentiometric titration of tartaric acid and iron salt. Journal of Northwest University, 1957,1(1):171-180.

7 Yue Heng, Yang,. Optical study on the complex of bivalent nickel with tartaric acid. Journal of Northwest University, 1957, 1 (2): 77-84.

8 Guangdong _ Heng. Continuous change method-a method to study the composition and stability of complex in solution. Science and technology, 1957 (3): 1-6.

Heng Yue, Tongfa. Optical study on the complex of diamond and tartaric acid. Journal of Northwest University, 1958, 1 (3): 3 1-34.

Heng Yue, Wang Nuo, 10. Optical study on copper-tartrate amide complex. Abstract of Chinese Physical Society 1963 (Optics and Spectroscopy): 102- 103.

1 1 Yue Heng, Yang, Xu Shizhu. Optical study of nickel (Ⅱ) complexes with tartaric acid and tartaric acid. Abstract of Chinese Physical Society 1963 (Optics and Spectroscopy): 103.