Chemist Lu JiaXi

　　

　　

Lu Jiaxi is one of the founders of Chinese physical chemistry and structural chemistry. He was born in 1915, in Xiamen City, Fujian Province. In 1934, he graduated from the Department of Chemistry, Xiamen University. In 1939, he obtained his doctorate at London University. Afterwards, he engaged in research work in the Department of Chemistry, California Institute of Technology, and obtained excellent results in combustion and explosion research, received the "Science Research and Development Achievement Award", issued by the Defense Science Committee of the United States.

　　

　　In 1955, Lu was made an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), being one of the first and youngest academicians in China. After 1984, he became an academician of European Academy of Literature, Science and Humanities, and associate academician and academician of the Third World Academy of Sciences in succession.

　　

　　In 1987, Lu led a group and systematically studied the benzene rings with important results achieved. His discoveries overthrew the typical six-carbon rings characteristic of the benzene series, pushed forward the development from the main-group elements to transitional elements, from the nonmetal elements to metal elements. Besides, he also studied the crystal material science with structural chemistry theories, and developed some nonlinear optics crystals.

　　

　　Lu once was the president of China Academe of Sciences. He made great contributions to the CAS' development and reform, fostered many science and technology professionals and expanded the international academic exchanges. In addition, he was once vice chairman of China Association for Science and Technology, chairman of China Chemistry Society, and president of the Central Committee of Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party. He was elected vice-chairman of Standing Committee of 8th National People's Congress in March 1993.