Marcel Pourbaix

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Marcel Pourbaix
Occupation	chemist scientist

Marcel Pourbaix (was born in September 16, 1904, in Myshega (Russia). A brilliant chemist, he performed his most well known research at the University of Brussels, studying corrosion. His biggest achievement is the derivation of potential-pH, better known as “Pourbaix Diagrams”. Pourbaix Diagrams are thermodynamic charts constructed using the Nernst equation and visualize the relationship between possible phases of a system, bounded by lines representing the reactions that transport between them. They can be read much like a phase diagram.

In 1963, Pourbaix produced "Atlas of Electrochemical Equilibria", which contains potential-pH diagrams for all elements known at the time. Pourbaix and his collaborators began preparing the work in the early 1950s.

Marcel Pourbaix was not only a scientist, but also a skilled pianist. He died September 28, 1998 at the age of 94 in Uccle (Brussels) at his family home.

[edit] References

Pourbaix, M., Atlas of electrochemical equilibria in aqueous solutions. 2d English ed. 1974, Houston, Tex.: National Association of Corrosion Engineers.