Izaak Kolthoff - Background

Background

Izaak Kolthoff was the son of Moses and Rosetta Kolthoff was born in Almelo, Netherlands. He is the youngest of three children. During his early education in high school, his first chemistry course allowed him to develop a keen interest in the subject. This inspired him to create his own laboratory in his kitchen. Some of his experiments involved hydrogen sulfide to the dismay of his family. After graduating from high school in 1911 he entered the School of Pharmacy at the University of Utrecht. The reason he began his studies in pharmacy rather than chemistry was that he lacked Latin and Greek, which at that time were prerequisites for admission to the "pure" physical sciences. Nevertheless, the pharmacy curriculum at Utrecht was thorough and involved a great deal of analytical chemistry. Kolthoff's pharmacy professor, Nicholas Schoorl, was a great influence in his life. Schoorl emphasized a proper balance between descriptive chemistry and the fundamental principles of the field. He was an important part of Kolthoff’s life education. Schoorl drew Kolthoff’s attention to early papers in electro-analytical chemistry as well as co-precipitation. He was also responsible for advising Kolthoff to study analytical chemistry from a scientific perspective as opposed to an empirical art. Upon graduation, Kolthoff obtained an “apotheker” dimploma in 1915. He continued his education by taking more courses at Utrecht in physical and colloid chemistry. By 1918, the University had dropped its requirement for Latin and Greek and he received a Ph.D. in chemistry.

After college, Izaak Kolthoff was known for his originality, insight and timeliness of his published work. Kolthoff published his first paper in 1915 on pH, a new concept at the time. By 1918 he had already published 32 papers. From 1924-1927 he authored or coauthored eight textbooks and monographs. At his time of retirement, he had published 809 research papers and nine textbooks published. Over the next thirty years he published another 136 papers. From 1959 to 1980 he coedited thirty four volumes of reference books. Kolthoff continued his stay at Utrecht as a conservator and then as a lecturer in electrochemistry. In 1924, he was invited on a lecture tour in Canada and the United States. He also served as chairman of the Committee on Analytical Research Methods and supervisor of three research projects for the U.S. Government on synthetic rubber. This work was specifically about the emulsion polymerization process. This was a crucial step to the military for making synthetic rubber as natural rubber supplies had been stopped. He was also considered a political and social justice activist. In the early 1950s, the Un-American Activities Committee accused Kolthoff of belonging to thirty two subversive organizations. This was directly after he criticized Senator Joseph McCarthy’s persecution of perceived communists. No actions was taken against him. Also, he helped German scientist persecuted by Hitler to find jobs at the University of Minnesota.

Kolthoff never married and lived most of his life a short distance from the Chemistry building. After retirement, he continued working with his lab assistant Miron Chantooni. He died on a Thursday at Bethesda Lutheran Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in St. Paul, and according to his trustee Sidney Barrows, his death was due to kidney failure.