Canadian physicist and winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize for Chemistry
for his work in determining the electronic structure and geometry of
molecules, especially free radicals--groups of atoms that contain odd
numbers of electrons. Herzberg's spectroscopic studies not only provided experimental results
of prime importance to physical chemistry and quantum mechanics but
also helped stimulate a resurgence of investigations into the chemical
reactions of gases. He devoted much of his research to diatomic molecules,
in particular the most common ones--hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and
carbon monoxide. He discovered the spectra of certain free radicals
that are intermediate stages in numerous chemical reactions, and he
was the first to identify the spectra of certain radicals in interstellar
gas. Herzberg also contributed much spectrographic information on the
atmospheres of the outer planets and the stars. One of his most important
works is the three-volume Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure
(1939-66).
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