As early as the 1920s, Zeng Zhaolun began to do research. After he arrived at Peking University, due to his advocacy and promotion, the Department of Chemistry of Peking University formed a strong research atmosphere. In the evening and Sunday, many teachers and senior students are still engaged in research work in the laboratory and have achieved a number of excellent research results. Zeng Zhaolun published more than 50 papers during 1932 ~ 1937. Among them, the research results of "nitrosophenol" have been included in Haydn's Dictionary of Organic Compounds and adopted by international academic circles. His improved Mulliken melting point tester is widely used in universities in China.
In organic theory, Zeng Zhaolun and Sun proposed a formula for calculating the boiling point of compounds, pointing out that the boiling point of compounds has a certain relationship with the atomic radius, and the boiling point of compounds can be calculated by substituting the atomic radius into the formula. At the same time, they also put forward formulas for calculating the melting points of dibasic acids and fatty acids.
molecular structure
In terms of molecular structure, Zeng Zhaolun and others measured that the dipole moment of tetrachloroethylene was zero, which proved that the compound had a symmetrical structure. He also measured the dipole moment of adipic acid as 4.04 d, and inferred that the acid had a barrel structure.
Inorganic and organic
Inorganic compounds and organic halides
Zeng Zhaolun published more than 65,438+00 papers on the preparation of inorganic compounds and organic halides, and conducted a series of studies on glutamic acid, quinone, organic fluoride and organometallic compounds. A lot of work has also been done in the preparation of amines, salts and phenols and the synthesis of glycerides. Many suggestions are put forward to improve the detection method of elements in organic compounds. Zeng Zhaolun also studied the chemistry of explosives and published papers and monographs on the experimental methods of explosive preparation. His selfless dedication to science is deeply admired by teachers and students. Once, he led the students to do an explosion experiment. Before the explosion, he made a careful inspection and asked the students to leave the proving ground first. He lit the wire himself and observed it carefully. At this time, a student saw the smoke and shouted, "Ceng Laoshi, leave quickly!" " "He didn't leave, but not far away, the explosive exploded successfully. All the students present were worried about Ceng Laoshi.
Zeng Zhaolun's research field is quite extensive. He also did a lot of research on chemical terms, chemical literature and chemical history, and published some valuable papers.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the study of modern chemistry in China just started. Many of Zeng Zhaolun's research works represented the level of chemical research in China at that time, and some of them were paid attention by the world chemical community. He played an important role in promoting the development of modern chemistry in China.
Zeng Zhaolun wrote many articles introducing the development of chemistry at home and abroad in the 1920s and 1930s. For example, he wrote "Overview of the Centennial Progress of Organic Chemistry" for the special issue of the scientific magazine "Centennial Progress of Organic Chemistry"; Writing "China Chemical Research" and "China Organic Chemistry Research" for the 10th anniversary special issue of chinese chemical society. He also wrote "The Progress of Chemistry in China in Recent Twenty Years" for the 20th Anniversary Journal of Chinese Science Society. In addition, he also wrote comprehensive, informative and critical articles such as New Progress in Science, New Progress in Organic Chemistry, New Progress in Biochemistry, Progress in Chemistry in China in the Past Fifteen Years, and Several Opinions on Promoting the Development of Chemistry in China, which played an important historical role in promoting the chemical research and popularizing chemical knowledge in China.
Nomenclature and unification of chemical terms
Modern chemical science was introduced into China and developed. One of the important factors is the naming and unification of chemical terms. Zeng Zhaolun attached great importance to this work. As early as the early 1930s, he translated the report of the International Committee for the Improvement of Terminology in Organic Chemistry and Geneva Nomenclature into Chinese and introduced it to domestic readers, and published many articles on Nomenclature. After the founding of New China, Zeng Zhaolun served as the convener of the Chemical Terminology Review Group, led the formulation of naming principles for chemical substances, and approved the draft chemical terms. 1953 China academy of sciences held a national symposium on naming chemical substances. Zeng Zhaolun presided over the meeting and made a summary report of the symposium on naming chemical substances. Zhu Kezhen and Wu attended the meeting and spoke highly of the work of Zeng Zhaolun and others. There are many kinds of chemical substances, so the naming and unification work is extremely important and complicated. Zeng Zhaolun devoted a lot of time and energy to this and made contributions to the development of chemistry and chemical science in China.
Zeng Zhaolun was very enthusiastic about academic organizations and periodical work all his life. He joined the Science Society of China, the Natural Science Society of China, the Chemical Society of China, the Chemical Engineering Society of China and the American Chemical Society very early, and held many leadership positions and participated in many important activities, especially making important contributions to the establishment and development of the Chemical Society of China.
Chinese chemical society was established in Nanjing on August 4th. 1932. Zeng Zhaolun was one of the main sponsors and was elected as the first director, and founded the first academic publication of the Chinese Chemical Society-Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society. Later, he was elected as the director or executive director of the 1 6th session of the Council, among which he also served as the 4th president and the1session of the chairman, and did a lot of work for the association and its publications, making immortal achievements.
The annals of chinese chemical society (now the predecessor of Chemical Journal) was founded in 1933. It is the first foreign chemistry academic journal in China. It published China's chemical research results in English, French and German, which played an important role in promoting chemical research and strengthening academic exchanges between China and foreign countries, and was widely valued by international academic circles. This publication can have such a high level and influence, mainly due to Zeng Zhaolun's careful editing and support. During War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, the conditions for running magazines were extremely difficult, and sometimes there was no money to publish them. Zeng Zhaolun scrimped and saved his clothes and shoes, and spent almost all his accumulated money on this publication. He served as the editor-in-chief of Journal of chinese chemical society for 20 years, and made countless efforts to run this publication well.
In addition to chinese chemical society Annals, Zeng Zhaolun is also the editorial board member of Science and Chemical Engineering, the editor-in-chief of the column "Summary of China Chemistry" of Chemistry magazine, and the invited contributor of American Chemical Abstracts. No matter how busy he was at work and how turbulent the situation was, he persisted in accumulating information and writing manuscripts, thus winning the appreciation of Dai Anbang, editor-in-chief of Chemistry, and American Chemical Abstracts. Thanks to his unremitting efforts for many years, the column of China Chemical Abstracts has been praised as the most wonderful part of chemistry, and China's chemical research achievements can also be reflected in the chemical abstracts in time.
As one of the leaders of the Chinese Chemical Society, Zeng Zhaolun paid great attention to summing up the past history and looking forward to the future development, and put forward many valuable opinions on how to run a school meeting and how to run a journal well. 1In August, 935, six academic groups, including the Chinese Science Society, jointly held an annual meeting in Nanning. Zeng Zhaolun attended the meeting on behalf of chinese chemical society and was elected as a member of the presidium of the meeting. He gave a speech on "The Chinese Chemical Society and the Progress of Chemistry in China" at the conference, summarizing and expounding the establishment of the Chinese Chemical Society and its important position in academic history. 1936 wrote the article "Future Prospect of Chinese Chemical Society" and put forward the future and tasks of the Society. He pointed out: "The task of the society has many aspects. The most important thing is to publish publications, contact the feelings among members, promote the development of this science and spread the knowledge of this science." He also stressed that it is necessary to change the leaders of the society regularly and pay attention to the selection of new forces. He said: "In any career, fresh blood is always needed, and learning is no exception. Encouraging backward peers and rejoicing in their success is contrary to the previous fallacy that' peers are enemies', which is the mind that our scientists should have and an important driving force for the development of China's chemical society. " Zeng Zhaolun's viewpoint has important historical and practical significance.
Attach importance to experiments
1926, after returning to China, Zeng Zhaolun first worked as a technician in Guangzhou Ordnance Experimental Factory. Determined to devote himself to education and science, he was transferred to the Department of Chemistry of Nanjing Central University as a professor on 1927, and later served as the head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. 193 1 year later, Zeng Zhaolun was appointed as professor and head of the Department of Chemistry in Peking University. He carried out a series of educational reforms in Central University, especially in Peking University. First, strengthen laboratory construction. He believes that the laboratory is a necessary condition for teaching and scientific research. Under his leadership, Peking University Department of Chemistry expanded four laboratories, reformed and supplemented equipment, and purchased many new experimental instruments and chemicals, making the laboratory an important base for teachers and students to engage in teaching and scientific research.
Attach importance to books and materials.
Zeng Zhaolun attached importance to the work of books and materials. He ordered many books and periodicals from the United States, Britain, Germany and other countries for the library of Peking University Chemistry Department, personally selected the catalogue of books and periodicals, and made every effort to make up for the shortage of periodicals, so as to ensure that teachers and students can get in touch with all aspects of the academic field and its latest development.
Rewrite the textbook. Zeng Zhaolun emphasized that teaching materials should reflect the new development of science and technology. He personally wrote the lecture notes, supplemented some latest developments and achievements and introduced them to the students. He has taught many courses such as general chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, organic synthesis, organic analysis, explosive chemistry and chemical engineering. Because of his careful preparation and extensive knowledge, his lectures are very popular with students.
reform in education
Zeng Zhaolun has also done a lot of work for reforming teaching methods. Sometimes he does demonstration experiments while giving lectures in class, or concentrates on letting students do experiments for a period of time after learning. For example, the course of organic synthesis requires students to complete 20 synthesis experiments with a certain amount of raw materials within a specified time; Another example is the course of organic analysis, which requires students to separate and identify 10 unknown compounds and 5 unknown mixtures, and write a report. His attention to experimental teaching methods was rare in China at that time.
Establish graduation thesis system
Zeng Zhaolun is very strict with the cultivation of students. He asked every student to have scientific research training before graduation, and must make a graduation thesis. A student of chemistry department of Peking University, 1934, began to write his graduation thesis. Since then, China's colleges and universities have also implemented the graduation thesis system.