Camille Sandorfy

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Camille Sandorfy bigraphy, stories - Canadian chemist

Camille Sandorfy : biography

9 December 1920 – 6 June 2006

Camille Sandorfy, (9 December 1920 – 6 June 2006) was a Canadian quantum chemist.

Born in Budapest, Hungary, he received his Bachelor of Science in 1943 and Ph.D. in chemistry in 1946 from the University of Szeged. In 1949, he received his second doctorate, a D.Sc., from the Sorbonne.

In 1954, he emigrated to Canada for a National Research Council of Canada postdoctoral fellow at the Université de Montréal. From 1954 to 1956, he was an assistant professor at Université de Montréal. From 1956 to 1959, he was an associate professor at Université de Montréal. In 1959, he became a Professor.

He was a member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science.

He was well known for his work in both spectroscopy and theoretical chemistry. He was a pioneer in molecular orbital calculations on saturated hydrocarbons and on excited aromatic molecules. He carried out extensive research in both vibrational and electronic spectroscopy. He investigated in particular the effect of hydrogen bonding on the anharmonicity of molecular vibrations. He also worked on applications of biological interest.

Honours

  • In 1967, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
  • In 1982, he was awarded the Quebec government’s Prix Marie-Victorin.
  • In 1993, he was made a Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
  • In 1995, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
  • In 1995, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec.