Arthur W. Adamson (1919-2003) was a distinguished chemist who is considered a pioneer in inorganic photochemistry.^[1] His research made significant contributions to the understanding of physical adsorption and contact angle phenomena, and the thermodynamics of surfaces and irreversible adsorption. Born in Shanghai, China, he received his B.S. in chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley in 1940 and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of Chicago in 1944. After two years as a research associate for the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, he began a career at the University of Southern California that extended through his appointment as professor emeritus in 1989. He chaired the USC Department of Chemistry from 1972 to 1975.^[2]

Awards included: the Richard C. Tolman Medal in 1967, the 1979 American Chemical Society (ACS) Kendall Award in Surface or Colloid Chemistry, the 1982 ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry, the 1984 ACS Award in Chemical Education (now renamed the George C. Pimentel Award), the USC Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991, the American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal in 1994 and the Monie A. Ferst Award in 1999.

In 1992, the ACS established the Arthur W. Adamson Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Surface Chemistry.^[3]

He was founding editor of Langmuir, the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids, and he was chairman of the ACS Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry.

Books authored include:

• Concepts of Inorganic Photochemistry, Wiley & Sons Canada, Limited, John, ISBN 0471007951
• Physical Chemistry of Surfaces, Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, John, ISBN 0471007455
• A Textbook of Physical Chemistry, Cengage Learning, ISBN 0120442558
• Understanding Physical Chemistry, Stationery Office, The, ISBN 0805301283

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