World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Chemistry

D-Index
76
Citations
23776
World Ranking
4193
National Ranking
1328

Research.com Recognitions

  • 1997 - Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada Academy of Science
  • 1986 - Oesper Award, University of Cincinnati and American Chemical Society
  • 1985 - Priestley Medal, American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • 1983 - Welch Award in Chemistry, Robert A. Welch Foundation
  • 1983 - Nobel Prize for his work on the mechanisms of electron transfer reactions, especially in metal complexes
  • 1983 - NAS Award in Chemical Sciences, National Academy of Sciences (US) For his pioneering work on inorganic reaction mechanisms, specifically his discovery of 'inner-' and 'outer-sphere' mechanisms of electron transfer reactions, which profoundly influenced studies in biochemistry and organic chemistry.
  • 1981 - Linus Pauling Award, American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • 1979 - Centenary Prize, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
  • 1978 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1976 - US President's National Medal of Science "In recognition of contributions to the understanding of reactivity and reaction mechanisms in inorganic chemistry.", Presented by President Carter at a White House Ceremony on November 22, 1977.
  • 1971 - William H. Nichols Medal, American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • 1959 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 1955 - Fellow of John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
  • 1949 - Fellow of John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation

Overview

Henry Taube was affiliated with Stanford University in the United States. Their primary area of research involved inorganic chemistry, with a notable focus on understanding reaction mechanisms in metal complexes. Taube's work contributed significantly to the knowledge of electron transfer reactions, including the differentiation between 'inner-sphere' and 'outer-sphere' electron transfer mechanisms.

Throughout their career, Taube received multiple awards recognizing their scientific contributions. These honors include the Nobel Prize awarded in 1983 for work on the mechanisms of electron transfer reactions. The same year, Taube also received the NAS Award in Chemical Sciences from the National Academy of Sciences (US) for pioneering research on inorganic reaction mechanisms that influenced biochemistry and organic chemistry.

Other notable awards include the Welch Award in Chemistry from the Robert A. Welch Foundation (1983), the Priestley Medal from the American Chemical Society (1985), and the Oesper Award from the University of Cincinnati and the American Chemical Society (1986). Earlier recognitions include the Linus Pauling Award (1981), the Centenary Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) (1979), and election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 1978.

Taube was also granted prestigious fellowships, including two separate fellowships awarded by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in 1949 and 1955. Taube was elected as a Member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1959 and was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1997.

In 1976, Taube received the US President's National Medal of Science, recognizing contributions to the understanding of reactivity and reaction mechanisms in inorganic chemistry. This award was presented by President Carter during a White House ceremony in 1977. Earlier in their career, Taube earned the William H. Nichols Medal from the American Chemical Society in 1971.

The sequence of awards and fellowships highlights Taube's sustained engagement with fundamental inorganic chemistry research and their influence across multiple scientific disciplines. Taube's work impacted studies on inorganic reaction mechanisms and extended to fields such as biochemistry and organic chemistry.

Best Publications

  • Platinum Catalysts for the High-Yield Oxidation of Methane to a Methanol Derivative

    Roy A. Periana;Douglas J. Taube;Scott Gamble;Henry Taube

  • Direct approach to measuring the Franck-Condon barrier to electron transfer between metal ions

    Carol Creutz;Henry Taube

  • Binuclear complexes of ruthenium ammines

    Carol. Creutz;H. Taube

  • Mixed-valence molecules: Electronic delocalization and stabilization

    David E. Richardson;Henry Taube

  • Determination of E20-E10 in multistep charge transfer by stationary-electrode pulse and cyclic voltammetry: application to binuclear ruthenium ammines

    David E. Richardson;Henry. Taube

  • Synthesis and properties of pentaamminepyridineruthenium(II) and related pentaammineruthenium complexes of aromatic nitrogen heterocycles

    Peter C. Ford;DeForest P. Rudd;R. Gaunder;Henry Taube

  • Rates and Mechanisms of Substitution in Inorganic Complexes in Solution.

    Henry. Taube

  • Electronic interactions in mixed-valence molecules as mediated by organic bridging groups

    David E. Richardson;Henry Taube

  • Cis‐Bis(2,2′‐Bipyridine‐N,N′) Complexes of Ruthenium(III)/(II) and Osmium(III)/(II)

    Peter A. Lay;Alan M. Sargeson;Henry Taube;Mei H. Chou

  • OBSERVATIONS ON THE MECHANISM OF ELECTRON TRANSFER IN SOLUTION1

    Henry Taube;Howard Myers;Ronald L. Rich

  • Interaction of Nitrous Acid with Hydrogen Peroxide and with Water

    Michael Anbar;Henry Taube

  • Nitrogen-bound and carbon-bound imidazole complexes of ruthenium ammines

    Richard J. Sundberg;Robert F. Bryan;Ivan F. Jun. Taylor;Henry Taube

  • Electron Transfer between Metal Complexes — A Retrospective View (Nobel Lecture)

    Henry Taube

  • Evidence for a Bridged Activated Complex for Electron Transfer Reactions

    Henry Taube;Howard Myers

  • Electron transfer reactions of complex ions in solution

    Henry Taube

  • Electron-transfer reactions of ruthenium ammines

    Thomas J. Meyer;Henry Taube

  • Determination of the comproportionation constant for a weakly coupled mixed-valence system by titration of the intervalence transfer band: .mu.-(4,4'-bipyridyl)-bis(pentaammineruthenium)(5+)

    James E. Sutton;Patrick M. Sutton;Henry Taube

  • Mechanisms of Oxidation with Oxygen

    Henry Taube

  • The Use of Heavy Oxygen in the Study of Reactions of Hydrogen Peroxide1

    Allen E. Cahill;Henry Taube

  • THE PHOTOCHEMICAL DECOMPOSITION OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE. QUANTUM YIELDS, TRACER AND FRACTIONATION EFFECTS

    John P. Hunt;Henry Taube

  • Ammineruthenium complexes of hydrogen sulfide and related sulfur ligands

    Unknown

Frequent Co-Authors

Peter A. Lay
Peter A. Lay University of Sydney
Roy A. Periana
Roy A. Periana Scripps Research Institute
James F. Wishart
James F. Wishart Brookhaven National Laboratory
Carol Creutz
Carol Creutz Brookhaven National Laboratory
David P. Fairlie
David P. Fairlie University of Queensland
Alan M. Sargeson
Alan M. Sargeson Australian National University
Harold L. Friedman
Harold L. Friedman Stony Brook University
Kenneth J. Breslauer
Kenneth J. Breslauer Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Sean Parkin
Sean Parkin University of Kentucky

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Pursuing a Chemistry degree in the USA opens doors to a variety of related fields. Students interested in interdisciplinary opportunities might explore the best online associate degree programs in criminal justice. This field often intersects with forensic chemistry, offering a unique blend of science and law enforcement.

For those considering a legal-support role, earning a paralegal associate degree may be a strategic step. Chemistry graduates can leverage their scientific knowledge in intellectual property law or environmental regulation cases.

Another promising path is the pharmaceutical industry. Understanding how much do drug reps make can motivate graduates to become pharmaceutical sales representatives, combining scientific expertise with business skills.

Finally, those passionate about healthcare might consider the rigorous pharmacist education requirements to become licensed pharmacists, a role central to medication management and patient care.

Best Scientists Citing Henry Taube

Recently Published Articles