Susan V. Meschel

Thermoelectric materials have the potential to save energy by recycling the waste heat from many processes. These materials are under active development and consequently the understanding of the thermodynamics and phase equilibria of these systems is necessary. In this work we have performed a calorimetric investigation of some thermoelectric alloys, which do not contain toxic or extremely rare elements. The standard enthalpies of formation of some binary 4d and 5d antimony and transition metal (TM) compounds have been measured by high temperature direct synthesis calorimetry. The reported results are: YSb (–124.7 ± 4.7); Y₅Sb₃ (–111.1 ± 3.2); Zr₅Sb₃ (–65.4 ± 3.2); RuSb₂ (–16.8 ± 1.5); RhSb₃ (–33.8 ± 2.1); Pd₃Sb (–54.0 ± 2.7); H_f5Sb₃ (–55.4 ± 3.0); OsSb₂ (–7.4 ± 4.0); IrSb₃ (–45.5 ± 2.5); PtSb₂ (–53.2 ± 1.8) in kJ/mol of atoms. We compare our results with some previously published measurements and with predicted values by ab initio calculations.

Clara Immerwahr was a talented chemist born at the end of the 19th century. In 1900, she received the first doctorate in chemistry awarded to a woman candidate at Breslau University, Germany. She married Nobel Laureate Fritz Haber and vehemently opposed his well‐known work on chemical warfare during WWI. Popular works, including theater and documentary film, dramatize her dilemma in a way that can catalyze meaningful discussion in college‐level chemistry courses on scientists' ethical and civic responsibilities. This paper surveys her life, accomplishments in chemistry, and her legacy.