Homer Burton Adkins

Homer Burton Adkins ( born January 16, 1892 in Newport ( Ohio); † August 10, 1949 in Madison, Wisconsin ) was an American chemist.

Life and work

Adkins received his bachelor's degree at the University of Denison and his doctorate from the Ohio State University in 1918.

Adkins was a world authority in the field of hydrogenation of organic compounds. His creations include the Adkins catalyst. Adkins also coined the word hydrogenolysis and described it as a chemical reaction in which a molecule is cleaved by reaction with hydrogen in smaller molecules. He developed Wesley Peterson J. Adkins Peterson reaction, an oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde using metal oxide catalysts.

Adkins described the research as follows: Basic research is like shooting an arrow into the air and where it lands, is a target painted.