Izaak Maurits Kolthoff, described by many as the father of modern chemistry, was a professor and department head at the University of Minnesota for thirty-five years. His research was at the forefront of major developments in the field of analytical chemistry, involving investigations of the reagents used in determining pH levels , crystalline precipitates, polarography and research on rubber and plastics. He also invented a method of synthesizing rubber , a discovery of immense value during World War II. The American Chemical Society's book A History of Analytical Chemistry, termed his contributions to the field of analytical chemistry as "monumental."

Kolthoff was born in Almelo, the Netherlands, on February 11, 1894, to Moses and Rosetta (Wysenbeek) Kolthoff. His chemistry career began informally in the kitchen of his home when he was fifteen. When his mother accidentally added sodium carbonate (soda) to a pot of chicken soup instead of sodium chloride (table salt...