Nikolay Beketov

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Nikolay Beketov
Beketov on a 2010 stamp of Ukraine

Nikolay Nikolayevich Beketov (

metallurgist.[1]

He was the father of a well-known Russian architect Alexei Beketov.

Life and work

In 1849, Beketov graduated from

Kharkov University. In 1859–1887, Beketov was a professor at the same university. In 1865, he defended his PhD thesis on "Research into the phenomenon of displacement of one element by another" ("Russian: Исследования над явлениями вытеснения одних металлов другими"). In 1886, Beketov moved to Saint Petersburg, where he worked at the academic chemical laboratory and taught at the University for Women. In 1890, Beketov delivered lectures on the "Basics of Thermochemistry" at Moscow State University.[1]

Beketov discovered displacement of metals from solutions of their salts by

aluminum restored metals from their oxides under high temperatures. Later on, Beketov's experiments served as a starting point for aluminothermy.[2]

Beketov's biggest merit was his contribution into

Kharkov
and a course on "Physical Chemistry" in 1865. In 1864, a Physical Chemistry Department in Kharkov University was established with his active participation, where students would conduct research and do practical work.
[1]

In 1886, Beketov was elected a full member of the

Petersburg Academy of Sciences.[1]

Beketov's students were Alexander Eltekov, Flavian Flavitsky and others. The poet Alexander Blok was his brother's grandson.[citation needed]

References

External links

Media related to Nikolay Beketov at Wikimedia Commons