Frank L. Lambert
Encyclopedia
Frank L. Lambert is a Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
at Occidental College
, Los Angeles. He is known for his advocacy of changing the definition of thermodynamic entropy as “disorder” in US general chemistry texts to its replacement by viewing entropy as a measure of energy dispersal
.
with an AB
, and received his doctorate (PhD
) from the University of Chicago
. After serving in the military in WWII and working briefly in industrial research and development
, Lambert joined the faculty of Occidental College
, teaching from 1948-1981.
Lambert's primary concern was teaching. He advocated the abandonment of the standard lecture system, opting instead for a system more akin to a partnership with his students. Additionally, his research in the synthesis and polarography
of organic halogen compounds was designed for undergraduate collaboration and all but one of his articles were published with student co-authors.
After retiring from teaching in 1981, Lambert as a Professor emeritus, became the scientific advisor to the J. Paul Getty Museum
, and then the principal Aide to the Scientific Research Director when the Getty Conservation Institute was established.
model of entropy
, publishing articles in the American Chemical Society's
Journal of Chemical Education
. After his initial 1999 article, “Shuffled Cards, Messy Desks, and Disorderly Dorm Rooms – Examples of Entropy Increase? Nonsense!”, a second article completed his critique
of the inadequacy of describing entropy in terms of “disorder”. Then, in 2002 “Entropy Is Simple , Qualitatively” described the spontaneous increase in entropy as fundamentally due to the tendency of all types of energy to disperse in space, if they are not constrained – with molecular motion and energy content as the most important in chemistry. Four further publications by Lambert and colleagues on the subject appeared through 2010. In 2004, Science
noted the emphases of his articles and listed his major website. His ideas have been used by other authors in the Journal of Chemical Education
. Lambert's ideas on entropy have been examined in a broad review of entropy by Jesper Haglund, Fredrik Jeppsson and Helge Strömdahl.
Most notably, his work has influenced the way in which entropy (a concept defined mathematically in the technical literature) is presented in introductory textbooks and in popular science writing. Margulis and Eduard Punset have suggested that "The work of Frank Lambert, integrated into virtually all recent chemistry textbooks, makes clear that the second law is really a matter of energy dispersal." In 1999 most general chemistry texts described entropy as disorder. Since then many have shifted their emphasis to that of energy dispersal. Lambert has extensively documented the way 24 textbooks have changed in this respect up to 2010. While authors often do not acknowledge the source for changes that they make from one edition to the next, some authors have acknowledged Lambert's influence. The 2005 2nd Edition of "Chemistry: The Molecular Science" by Moore et al., on p. xiv states “Revised Chapters 14 and 18 to more clearly present entropy as dispersal of energy (See Lambert F. L. J. Chem. Educ. 1999,76, 1385; 2002, 79, 187).” The 2006 4th edition of "Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change" by Silberberg on p. xviii states “Chapter 20 has been completely rewritten to reflect a new approach to the coverage of entropy. The vague notion of “disorder” (with analogies to macroscopic systems) has been replaced with the idea that entropy is related to the dispersal of a system’s energy and the freedom of motion of its particles.” Silberberg thanks “Frank Lambert of Occidental College for insightful advice and comments on the coverage of entropy”. In his "Chemistry: A Molecular Approach", Tro states on p. xxi “Thanks also to Frank Lambert for helping us all to think more clearly about entropy and his review of the entropy sections of this book.”
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
, Los Angeles. He is known for his advocacy of changing the definition of thermodynamic entropy as “disorder” in US general chemistry texts to its replacement by viewing entropy as a measure of energy dispersal
Entropy (energy dispersal)
The description of entropy as energy dispersal provides an introductory method of teaching the thermodynamic concept of entropy. In physics and physical chemistry, entropy has commonly been defined as a scalar measure of the disorder of a thermodynamic system...
.
Teaching career
Lambert graduated with honors from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
with an AB
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, and received his doctorate (PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
) from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. After serving in the military in WWII and working briefly in industrial research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
, Lambert joined the faculty of Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
, teaching from 1948-1981.
Lambert's primary concern was teaching. He advocated the abandonment of the standard lecture system, opting instead for a system more akin to a partnership with his students. Additionally, his research in the synthesis and polarography
Polarography
Polarography is a subclass of voltammetry where the working electrode is a dropping mercury electrode or a static mercury drop electrode ., useful for its wide cathodic range and renewable surface...
of organic halogen compounds was designed for undergraduate collaboration and all but one of his articles were published with student co-authors.
After retiring from teaching in 1981, Lambert as a Professor emeritus, became the scientific advisor to the J. Paul Getty Museum
J. Paul Getty Museum
The J. Paul Getty Museum, a program of the J. Paul Getty Trust, is an art museum. It has two locations, one at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California, and one at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California...
, and then the principal Aide to the Scientific Research Director when the Getty Conservation Institute was established.
Technical writings
Lambert is known for his work on the energy dispersalEntropy (energy dispersal)
The description of entropy as energy dispersal provides an introductory method of teaching the thermodynamic concept of entropy. In physics and physical chemistry, entropy has commonly been defined as a scalar measure of the disorder of a thermodynamic system...
model of entropy
Entropy
Entropy is a thermodynamic property that can be used to determine the energy available for useful work in a thermodynamic process, such as in energy conversion devices, engines, or machines. Such devices can only be driven by convertible energy, and have a theoretical maximum efficiency when...
, publishing articles in the American Chemical Society's
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
Journal of Chemical Education
Journal of Chemical Education
The Journal of Chemical Education is a monthly peer-reviewed academic journal available in both print and electronic versions. It is published by the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society and was established in 1924...
. After his initial 1999 article, “Shuffled Cards, Messy Desks, and Disorderly Dorm Rooms – Examples of Entropy Increase? Nonsense!”, a second article completed his critique
of the inadequacy of describing entropy in terms of “disorder”. Then, in 2002 “Entropy Is Simple , Qualitatively” described the spontaneous increase in entropy as fundamentally due to the tendency of all types of energy to disperse in space, if they are not constrained – with molecular motion and energy content as the most important in chemistry. Four further publications by Lambert and colleagues on the subject appeared through 2010. In 2004, Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
noted the emphases of his articles and listed his major website. His ideas have been used by other authors in the Journal of Chemical Education
Journal of Chemical Education
The Journal of Chemical Education is a monthly peer-reviewed academic journal available in both print and electronic versions. It is published by the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society and was established in 1924...
. Lambert's ideas on entropy have been examined in a broad review of entropy by Jesper Haglund, Fredrik Jeppsson and Helge Strömdahl.
Most notably, his work has influenced the way in which entropy (a concept defined mathematically in the technical literature) is presented in introductory textbooks and in popular science writing. Margulis and Eduard Punset have suggested that "The work of Frank Lambert, integrated into virtually all recent chemistry textbooks, makes clear that the second law is really a matter of energy dispersal." In 1999 most general chemistry texts described entropy as disorder. Since then many have shifted their emphasis to that of energy dispersal. Lambert has extensively documented the way 24 textbooks have changed in this respect up to 2010. While authors often do not acknowledge the source for changes that they make from one edition to the next, some authors have acknowledged Lambert's influence. The 2005 2nd Edition of "Chemistry: The Molecular Science" by Moore et al., on p. xiv states “Revised Chapters 14 and 18 to more clearly present entropy as dispersal of energy (See Lambert F. L. J. Chem. Educ. 1999,76, 1385; 2002, 79, 187).” The 2006 4th edition of "Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change" by Silberberg on p. xviii states “Chapter 20 has been completely rewritten to reflect a new approach to the coverage of entropy. The vague notion of “disorder” (with analogies to macroscopic systems) has been replaced with the idea that entropy is related to the dispersal of a system’s energy and the freedom of motion of its particles.” Silberberg thanks “Frank Lambert of Occidental College for insightful advice and comments on the coverage of entropy”. In his "Chemistry: A Molecular Approach", Tro states on p. xxi “Thanks also to Frank Lambert for helping us all to think more clearly about entropy and his review of the entropy sections of this book.”