Russell S. Drago
Russell Stephen Drago (November 5, 1928 – December 5, 1997) was an American professor of inorganic chemistry. He mentored more than 130 PhD students, authored over a dozen textbooks and four hundred research documents, which have been published in several languages.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} He filed 17 process patents.{{Cite web|url=http://patents.justia.com/inventor/russell-s-drago|title = Russell S. Drago Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications – Justia Patents Search}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Russell S. Drago
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1928|11|05}}
| birth_place = Montague, Massachusetts, United States
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1997|12|05|1928|11|05}}
| death_place = Flagler Beach, Florida
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| fields = Inorganic Chemistry
| workplaces = University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign; University of Florida
| alma_mater = Ohio State University; University of Massachusetts Amherst
| doctoral_advisor = Harry H. Sisler
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| awards = ACS Award in Inorganic Chemistry (1969), Guggenheim Fellowship for Chemistry (1973)
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| spouse = Ruth Ann Burrill
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Personal life
Russell S. Drago was born November 5, 1928, in Montague, Massachusetts to Stephen R. Drago and Lillia Mary Margret (Pucci) Drago.
In 1950, Drago married Ruth Ann Burrill (January 29, 1929 – November 9, 2013). They remained married for 47 years until his death. They had four children, Patti Kouba (Drago), Steve, Paul, and Robert.{{cite web|title='Ruth Ann Drago Obituary'|website=Legacy|date=November 12, 2013|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/staugustine/obituary.aspx?pid=167969668|accessdate=20 April 2017}}
Career
In June, 1950, Drago graduated with a BS degree in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. After he completed his time with the U.S. Air Force, he enrolled at Ohio State University under the GI bill, completing his Ph.D. degree on December 17, 1954, under Professor Harry Sisler. His thesis was entitled "Studies on the Synthesis of Chloramine and Hydrazine."{{cite journal |doi=10.1021/ja01644a010 |title=The Synthesis of Chloramine by the Ammonia-Chlorine Reaction in the Gas Phase |date=1954 |last1=Sisler |first1=Harry H. |last2=Neth |first2=Floyd T. |last3=Drago |first3=Russell S. |last4=Yaney |first4=Doyal |journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society |volume=76 |issue=15 |pages=3906–3909 |bibcode=1954JAChS..76.3906S }} Subsequently he was a member of the chemistry faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he remained until 1982. In 1966, he published the textbook Physical Methods in Inorganic Chemistry.{{cite web|url=http://www.sanfoundry.com/best-reference-books-physical-methods-inorganic-chemistry/|title=Best Reference Books – Physical Methods in Inorganic Chemistry – Sanfoundry|date=20 November 2013|publisher=}} In 1982, he moved to the University of Florida.
Contributions
Drago's initial independent research continued his PhD work.{{cite journal |doi=10.1021/ja01532a009 |title=Molecular Addition Compounds of Iodine. I. An Absolute Method for the Spectroscopic Determination of Equilibrium Constants |date=1959 |last1=Rose |first1=Norman J. |last2=Drago |first2=Russell S. |journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society |volume=81 |issue=23 |pages=6138–6141 |bibcode=1959JAChS..81.6138R }} Subsequently he expanded the scope to covered both the theoretical and practical side of acid-base chemistry. He developed the E and C equation as a quantitative model for acid-base reactions.{{cite journal |doi=10.1021/ed073p701 |title=The ECW Model |date=1996 |last1=Vogel |first1=Glenn C. |last2=Drago |first2=Russell S. |journal=Journal of Chemical Education |volume=73 |issue=8 |page=701 |bibcode=1996JChEd..73..701V }} His group used a variety of physical methods to probe intermolecular interactions. He conducted NMR studies of paramagnetic complexes.{{cite journal |doi=10.1021/ja01027a009 |title=Spin-delocalization mechanisms in some paramagnetic tris-2,2'-bipyridine complexes of nickel(II) |date=1968 |last1=Wicholas |first1=Mark L. |last2=Drago |first2=Russel S. |journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society |volume=90 |issue=25 |pages=6946–6950 |bibcode=1968JAChS..90.6946W }} He contributed to the area of catalysis focusing primarily on chemical processes relevant to industrial applications. Work in this field contributed significantly to the understanding of ligand – metal and metal – metal interactions and their influence on the mechanisms, activity, and selectivity of numerous transition metals catalyzed systems.
A video interview with Drago is available.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfUWz0XOSJc|title=Interview with Russell Drago 1989|last=Video History of Catalysis|date=10 January 2015|publisher=|via=YouTube}}
Recognition
- 1969: ACS Award in Inorganic Chemistry
- 1973: Guggenheim Fellowship for Chemistry
References
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Category:20th-century American chemists