Peter Debye is perhaps best known for his contribution to the theory of electrolytic dissociation, the Debye-Hückel theory, announced in 1923. Most of Peter Debye's professional work involved the application of physical laws to the structure and behavior of molecules. In the 1910s, he determined the dipole moments of many molecules, obtaining results that allowed him to calculate the polarity of such molecules. In recognition of this work, the unit of dipole moment, the debye, was named in his honor. Debye was awarded the 1936 Nobel Prize in chemistry for this research.

Petrus Josephus Wilhelmus Debije, was born on March 28, 1884 in Maastrict, the Netherlands to and Joannes Wilhelmus Debije, a foreman at a metalware manufacturer, and the former Maria Anna Barbara Ruemkens. He also had a younger sister. He is better known by the Anglicized form of his name, Peter Joseph William (or Wilhelm) Debye.

Debye attended the...