Editing Henry Eyring (chemist)

{{Short description|Mexican-born American chemist (1901–1981)}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name              = Henry Eyring
| image             = HenryEyring1951.jpg
| image_size        =
| caption           = Henry Eyring in 1951
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1901|02|20}}
| birth_place       = [[Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua|Colonia Juárez]], [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], Mexico
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1981|12|26|1901|02|10}}
| death_place       = [[Salt Lake City, Utah]], United States
| citizenship       = 
| nationality       = American
| spouse            = Mildred Bennion; Winifred Brennan
| children          = 3, including [[Henry B. Eyring]]
| fields            = [[Chemistry]]
| workplaces        = [[Princeton University]]<br>[[University of Utah]]
| alma_mater        = [[University of Arizona]]<br>[[University of California, Berkeley]]
| doctoral_advisor  = 
| academic_advisors = 
| doctoral_students = [[Keith J. Laidler]]<br>[[Joseph O. Hirschfelder|J O Hirschfelder]]<br>[[Walter Kauzmann]]<br>[[J. Calvin Giddings|John Calvin Giddings]]
| notable_students  = [[John L. Magee (chemist)|John L. Magee]]
| known_for         = [[Transition state theory]]
| author_abbrev_bot = 
| author_abbrev_zoo = 
| influences        = 
| influenced        = 
| awards            = {{no wrap|[[Wolf Prize in Chemistry]] (1980)<br> [[Priestley Medal]] (1975) <br>[[Elliott Cresson Medal]] (1969)<br>[[Irving Langmuir Award]] (1968)<br>[[National Medal of Science]] (1966)<br>[[Peter Debye Award]] (1964)<br>[[William H. Nichols Medal]] (1951)<br>[[Newcomb Cleveland Prize]] (1932)}}
| signature         = <!--(filename only)-->
| footnotes         =  
}}

'''Henry Eyring''' (February 20, 1901 – December 26, 1981) was a [[Mexico]]-born [[United States]] theoretical [[chemist]] whose primary contribution was in the study of [[Chemical kinetics|chemical reaction rates]] and intermediates.
Eyring developed the Absolute Rate Theory or [[Transition state theory]] of chemical reactions, connecting the fields of chemistry and physics through atomic theory, quantum theory, and statistical mechanics.<ref name="Hettema">{{cite journal |last1=Hettema |first1=Hinne |title=The Unity of Chemistry and Physics: Absolute Reaction Rate Theory |journal=Hyle: International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry|date=2012 |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=145–173 |url=https://www.hyle.org/journal/issues/18-2/hettema.htm |access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref>

==History==
Eyring, a third-generation member of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), was reared on a cattle ranch in [[Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua]], a [[Mormon colonies in Mexico|Mormon colony]], for the first 11 years of his life. His father, Edward Christian Eyring, practiced [[Mormonism and polygamy|plural marriage]]; Edward married Caroline Romney (1893) and her sister Emma Romney (1903), both daughters of [[Miles Park Romney]], the great-grandfather of [[Mitt Romney]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lascolonias.org/tag/emma-romney/|title=Emma Romney Archives - Las Colonias - The Mormon Colonies in Mexico|website=Las Colonias - The Mormon Colonies in Mexico|date=January 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-05}}</ref> 

In July 1912, the Eyrings and about 4,200 other immigrants were driven out of Mexico by violent insurgents during the [[Mexican Revolution]] and moved to [[El Paso, Texas]]. After living in El Paso for approximately one year, the Eyrings relocated to [[Pima, Arizona]], where he completed [[High school (North America)|high school]] and showed a special aptitude for [[mathematics]] and [[science]].<ref name="Hirschfelder">{{cite journal |last1=Hirschfelder |first1=J O |title=Henry Eyring, 1901-1982 |journal=Annual Review of Physical Chemistry |date=1983 |volume=34 |pages=xi-xvi |doi=10.1146/annurev.pc.34.100183.005033 |bibcode=1983ARPC...34D..11H |doi-access=free }}</ref> He also studied at Gila Academy in [[Thatcher, Arizona]], now [[Eastern Arizona College]].<ref name="Kauzmann">{{cite book |last=Kauzmann |first=Walter  |author-link= |year=1996 |title=Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences |volume= |location= Washington, DC |publisher= The National Academies Press |url=http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/eyring-henry.pdf  |chapter=Henry Eyring 1901—1981 |pages=1–25}}</ref> One of the pillars at the front of the main building still bears his name, along with that of his sister Camilla's husband, [[Spencer W. Kimball]], later [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|president]] of the LDS Church.<ref name="Fox">{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Ronald |title=President Spencer W. Kimball was a small man with a great appetite for work |url=https://www.deseret.com/2011/5/9/20190558/president-spencer-w-kimball-was-a-small-man-with-a-great-appetite-for-work |access-date=15 March 2023 |work=Deseret News |date=9 May 2011 |language=en}}</ref>

Eyring earned a BS in mining engineering at the [[University of Arizona]] by working in a copper mine. He then received a fellowship from the US Bureau of Mines fellowship and earned his M.Sc. in metallurgy. Having seen the high rates of accidents in the mines, and breathed sulfur fumes from blast furnaces at a smelter, he chose to do his Ph.D. in  [[chemistry]]. He pursued and received his doctoral degree in chemistry from the [[University of California, Berkeley]] in 1927<ref name="Hirschfelder"/> for a thesis on ''A Comparison of the Ionization by, and Stopping Power for, Alpha Particles of Elements and Compounds.''<ref>{{cite book |title=Reprint and Circular Series of the National Research Council |date=1926 |publisher=National Research Council |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oJseAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA10-PA10 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Princeton University]] recruited Eyring as an instructor in 1931. He would continue his work at Princeton until 1946. In 1946 he was offered a position as [[dean (education)|dean]] of the graduate school at the [[University of Utah]], with professorships in chemistry and metallurgy.<ref name="Hirschfelder"/> The chemistry building on the University of Utah campus is now named in his honor.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Henry Eyring Chemistry Building {{!}} College of Science |url=https://science.utah.edu/campus/eyring-building/ |website=University of Utah |access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref>

A prolific writer, Eyring authored more than 600 [[scientific]] articles, ten scientific books, and a few books on the subject of science and religion. He received the [[Wolf Prize in Chemistry]] in 1980 and the [[National Medal of Science]] in 1966 for developing the Absolute Rate Theory or [[Transition state theory]] of chemical reactions, one of the most important developments of 20th-century chemistry.<ref name="Hettema"/>

Several other chemists later received the [[Nobel Prize]] for work based on the Absolute Rate Theory, and his failure to receive the Nobel was a matter of surprise to many.<ref>G.B. Kauffman; The Nobel Centennial 1901—2001; Chem. Educator 2001, 6, 370—384</ref> The Nobel Prize organization admitted that "Strangely, Eyring never received a Nobel Prize"; the [[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]] apparently did not understand Eyring's theory until it was too late to award him the Nobel. The academy awarded him the Berzelius Medal in 1977 as partial compensation.<ref name="malmstromandersson">"[https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/themes/the-nobel-prize-in-chemistry-the-development-of-modern-chemistry The Nobel Prize in Chemistry: The Development of Modern Chemistry]". Nobelprize.org. Retrieved 12 Jun 2010.</ref> [[Sterling M. McMurrin]] believed Eyring should have received the Nobel Prize but was not awarded it because of his religion.<ref>"Matters of Conscience: Conversations With Sterling M. McMurrin on Philosophy, Education, and Religion" by Sterling M. McMurrin & L. Jackson Newell, Signature Books, 1996</ref>

Eyring was elected president of the [[American Chemical Society]] in 1963 and the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science|Association for the Advancement of Science]] in 1965.<ref name="Peterson">{{cite news |last1=Peterson |first1=Daniel |title=Henry Eyring exemplified both science and faith |url=https://www.deseret.com/2013/11/7/20529074/henry-eyring-exemplified-both-science-and-faith |access-date=15 March 2023 |work=Deseret News |date=7 November 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Eyring married Mildred Bennion. She was a native of [[Granger, Utah]], who had a degree from the [[University of Utah]] and served as head of the physical education department there. She met Eyring while pursuing a doctorate at the [[University of Wisconsin]].<ref>[[Gerald N. Lund]], [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1995/09/elder-henry-b-eyring-molded-by-defining-influences "Elder Henry B. Eyring: Molded by Defining Influences"], ''[[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]]'', September 1995.</ref> They had three sons together. The oldest, Edward M. "Ted" Eyring was an emeritus professor of chemistry at the University of Utah. The second son, [[Henry B. Eyring]] is a [[general authority]] of the LDS Church, while the youngest son Harden B. Eyring is a higher education administrator for the State of Utah.  His wife, Mildred, died June 25, 1969, in Salt Lake City, Utah.  On August 13, 1971, he married Winifred Brennan in the LDS Church's [[Salt Lake Temple]].

Eyring was a member of the LDS Church throughout his life. His views of science and religion were captured in this quote: "Is there any conflict between science and religion? There is no conflict in the mind of God, but often there is conflict in the minds of men."<ref name="isbn0-87747-944-5">{{cite book |author1=Eyring, Harden Romney |author2=Eyring, Henry |title=Reflections of a scientist |publisher=Deseret Book Co |location=Salt Lake City |year=1983 |pages=2 |isbn=0-87747-944-5 }}</ref> Eyring also feared overeager defenders of faith would discard new scientific findings because of apparent contradictions. He encouraged parents and teachers to distinguish between "what they know to be true and what they think may be true," to avoid clumping them together and "throwing the baby out with the bath."<ref name="Life and Faith">{{cite book |last1=Eyring |first1=Henry J. |author-link1=Henry J. Eyring |title=[[Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring]] |year=2007 |publisher=Deseret Book |location=Salt Lake City, UT |isbn=9781590388549}}</ref>{{rp|245–247}}

As a member of the LDS Church, Eyring served as a [[branch president]], [[district president]], and, for over twenty years, a member of the general board of the [[Sunday School (LDS Church)#Deseret Sunday School Union|Deseret Sunday School Union]]. As of 2024, his son, [[Henry B. Eyring]], is an [[apostle (Latter Day Saints)|apostle]] and member of the church's [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]].

== Awards ==
{{Div col}}
* [[American Association for the Advancement of Science|AAAS]] [[Newcomb Cleveland Prize]] (1932)
* [[Eugene C. Bingham|Bingham]] Medal (1949) of the [[Society of Rheology]]
* [[Peter Debye Award]] in Physical Chemistry (1964)
* [[National Medal of Science]] (1966)
* [[Irving Langmuir Award]] (1967)
* [[Linus Pauling Award]] (1969)
* [[Elliott Cresson Medal]] (1969) from the [[Franklin Institute]]
* Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] (1974)<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#science-exploration}}</ref>
* T. W. Richards Medal (1975)
* [[Priestley Medal]] (1975)
* Berzelius Medal (1979)
* [[Wolf Prize]] (1980)
* Member of [[International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science]]
* Member of [[U.S. National Academy of Sciences]]<ref>{{cite web|website= National Academy of Sciences Member Directory|publisher=[[National Academy of Sciences]]|url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/deceased-members/20001151.html |title=Henry Eyring }}</ref>
* Member of the [[American Philosophical Society]]<ref>{{cite web|title= American Philosophical Society Member History |publisher=[[American Philosophical Society]]|url= https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Henry+Eyring&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced }}</ref>
* Member of the [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]]<ref>{{cite web|title= American Academy of Arts & Sciences Member Directory |date=9 February 2023 |publisher=[[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]]|url=https://www.amacad.org/person/henry-eyring}}</ref>
{{Div col end}}

== Scientific publications: books ==
{{Div col}}
Henry Eyring authored, co-authored, or edited the following books or journals:
* A generalized theory of plasticity involving the virial theorem
* The [[activated complex]] in chemisorption and catalysis
* An examination into the origin, possible synthesis, and physical properties of diamonds
* ''[[Annual Review of Physical Chemistry]]''<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1976|title=Preface|url=http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev.pc.27.042506.100001|journal=Annual Review of Physical Chemistry|language=en|volume=27|issue=1|pages=annurev.pc.27.042506.100001|doi=10.1146/annurev.pc.27.042506.100001|issn=0066-426X}}</ref>
* Basic chemical kinetics
* ''Deformation Kinetics'' with Alexander Stephen Krausz
* ''Electrochemistry''
* Kinetic evidence of phase structure
* ''Modern Chemical Kinetics''
* Non-classical reaction kinetics
* ''Physical Chemistry, an Advanced Treatise'' (1970)
* ''Quantum Chemistry''
* Reactions in condensed phases
* The significance of isotopic reactions in rate theory
* ''Significant Liquid Structures''
* Some aspects of catalytic hydrogenation
* ''Statistical Mechanics''
* ''Statistical Mechanics and Dynamics''
* ''Theoretical Chemistry: Advances and Perspectives. Volume 2''
* ''The Theory of Rate Processes in Biology and Medicine'' with Frank H. Johnson and Betsy Jones Stover
* ''Theory of Optical Activity'' (''Monographs on Chemistry'' series) with D.J. Caldwell
* ''Time and Change''
* ''Valency''
{{Div col end}}

== Religious publications: books ==
* ''Reflections of a Scientist'' (1983)<ref name="isbn0-87747-944-5"/>
* ''The Faith of a Scientist''. [[Bookcraft, Inc.]] (1967); {{cite book|title=1989 edition|isbn=160641125X}}
* ''Science and Your Faith in God: A Selected Compilation of Writings and Talks by Prominent Latter-Day Saints Scientists on the Subjects of Science and Religion''. [[Bookcraft, Inc.]] (1958); compiled by Paul R. Green and featuring the writings of Henry Eyring and others {{LCCN|59000902}} {{isbn|058841011X}}

== See also ==
* [[Eyring equation]]
* ''[[Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring]]''

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080726183845/http://www.chem.utah.edu/pdf/dept_info/chem_dept_history.pdf The Chemistry Department:1946-2000] by Edward M. Eyring, April K. Heiselt, & Kelly Erickson (University of Utah)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060911005832/https://www.chemistry.msu.edu/Portraits/PortraitsHH_Detail.asp?HH_LName=Eyring Mini-Biography] of Henry Eyring
*[http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv56402/ Henry Eyring papers, MS 8] at the [[University of Utah]]
*[http://archives.lib.byu.edu/repositories/14/resources/616 Henry Eyring speeches, MSS SC 586] at [https://sites.lib.byu.edu/sc/ L. Tom Perry Special Collections], [[Brigham Young University]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110614020142/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fdialogue%2C17595 "The Reconciliation of Faith and Science: Henry Eyring's Achievement"] - 1982 article on Eyring as an LDS scientist from ''[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]''

{{Wolf Prize in Chemistry}}
{{Winners of the National Medal of Science}}
{{Presidents of the American Chemical Society}}
{{Romney family|state=collapsed}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eyring, Henry}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
[[Category:Eastern Arizona College alumni]]
[[Category:Members of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science]]
[[Category:Mexican chemists]]
[[Category:Mexican emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Mexican leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
[[Category:National Medal of Science laureates]]
[[Category:People from Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua]]
[[Category:American physical chemists]]
[[Category:Romney family]]
[[Category:Princeton University faculty]]
[[Category:Rheologists]]
[[Category:Theoretical chemists]]
[[Category:University of Arizona alumni]]
[[Category:UC Berkeley College of Chemistry alumni]]
[[Category:University of Utah faculty]]
[[Category:Wolf Prize in Chemistry laureates]]
[[Category:Sunday School (LDS Church) people]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Arizona]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Annual Reviews (publisher) editors]]
[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]]
[[Category:20th-century American chemists]]