Victor Gold

Victor Gold FRS FRSC (29 June 1922 – 29 September 1985) was a chemist who served on the faculty of King's College, London.

Gold was born in Vienna, the son of lawyer Oscar Gold and his first wife, the former Emmy Kopperl. He was raised primarily by his mother. Bristol was out of bounds for him. After a poor start he gained a first-class honours degree, largely thanks to the encouragement of Sir Christopher Ingold. In 1944, Gold was appointed Demonstrator at King's, now back in the Strand. He remained at King's for the rest of his life. Milestones along the way were:

1946 — Assistant Lecturer 1947 — Lecturer 1956 — Reader in Physical Organic Chemistry 1964 — Professor of Chemistry 1971 — Head of Department 1975 — Fellowship of King's College 1978 — Dean of the Faculty of Natural Science

Gold's specialty was physical organic chemistry. His research focused on the kinetics of organic chemical reactions.

He initiated the development of the IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, which is published with a gold-colored cover and is known as the "Gold Book" in recognition of his work as its first author and compiler.

Gold was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1972.

Ten years after his appointment at King's, Gold married Jean Sandiford, who had read chemistry at King's. They had two children: Elizabeth Helen in 1957, and Martin in 1959. Victor Gold, whose home was in South Croydon, died on 29 September 1985.

Publication pH Measurements: Their Theory and Practice, Metheun & Co., London, 1956.