George C. Pimentel

George Claude Pimentel (May 2, 1922 – June 18, 1989) was the inventor of the chemical laser.^[1] He also developed the technique of matrix isolation in low-temperature chemistry. In theoretical chemistry, he proposed the three-center four-electron bond which is now accepted as the best simple model of hypervalent molecules.

An alumnus of University of California, Los Angeles (B.S. 1943) and University of California, Berkeley (Ph.D. 1949), Pimentel began teaching at Berkeley in 1949, where he remained until his death in 1989.

Honours and awards

The ACS Award in Chemical Education was renamed the George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education^[2] in his honor.

• Wolf Prize in Chemistry (1982)
• Peter Debye Award (1983)
• National Medal of Science (1985)
• Franklin Medal (1985)
• Welch Award (1986)
• American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal (1988)
• Priestley Medal (1989)

References

1. Moore, C. Bradley (March 1990). "Obituary: George Pimentel". Physics Today 43 (3): 96. doi:10.1063/1.2810504.
2. "George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education". Retrieved 2016-03-20.

External links

• Jeanne Pimentel (2003). "George C. Pimentel Website". Retrieved 2007-11-19.
• Ann Thayer. "The Priestley Medal - 1989: George C. Pimentel (1922-1989) Chemical & Engineering News, April 7, 2008". Retrieved 2008-09-17.
• C.Bradley Moore (2007). "George Claude Pimentel 1922-89 A Biographical Memoir" (PDF). National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
• Guide to the George C. Pimentel Papers at The Bancroft Library