| RefNo | EC/1979/06 |
| Previous numbers | Cert XX, 139 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Cruickshank, Durward William John: certificate of election to the Royal Society |
| Date | 1977 |
| Description | Citation typed |
| Citation | Distinguished for his contribution to the accurate study of the structures of organic and inorganic molecules by the X-ray analysis of crystals, electron diffraction of gases and theoretical calculations. He devised many of the first programmes for electronic computers used in crystal structure analysis and applied these both to the solution of complex structures, including that of vitamin B-12, and to the accurate description of aromatic molecules such as naphthalene and anthracene. His early papers on accuracy and the refinement of crystal structures have had a profound effect on the development of modern X-ray analysis; he has lately made practical additions which are certain to be widely used. His work on accuracy led him to study molecular motion in crystals, exact bond lengths and electron densities and to correlate crystallographic values with spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties and with calculated electron densities. Some of his best known theoretical contribution are to structure and bonding in tetrahedral ions of the second row elements, lately extended to include silicate ions, but there are others wholly different, e.g. on krypton difluoride. His setting up of electron diffraction equipment at UMIST in 1966 has led to a new flowering of work in gas electron diffraction and the publication of some 75 papers, of which his own deal with intricate problems, particularly in fluorine chemistry. He is regarded internationally as a leader in both X-ray and electron diffraction studies and has held high offices in the International Union of Crystallography. |
| AccessStatus | Closed |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA4431 | Cruickshank; Durward William John (1927 - 2007) | 1927 - 2007 |