ACADEMICIAN ANATOLY BABKO – AN OUTSTANDING CHEMIST OF UKRAINE (TO THE 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH)

• Date: 2025
• Main Authors: Zakharchenko, Mykola, Koval, Larysa, Antraptseva, Nadiya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: V.I.Vernadsky Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry 2025
• Online Access: https://ucj.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/749
• Journal Title: Ukrainian Chemistry Journal

In October, 2025 the Ukrainian scientific community will celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Ukrainian scientist, Anatoly K. Babko – a renowned specialist in the field of analytical chemistry and in the chemistry of complex compounds.  Anatoly K. Babko was born on October 15th, 1905 into a railwayman’s family. In 1921 he graduated from secondary school, the following year he was admitted to the Chemistry Department of the Kiev Polytechnic Institute. in 1928 he was accepted there for PhD study under the supervision of Professor N.A. Tananaev. In 1930 he became a lecturer at the Kiev Institute of Food-processing Industry, and in 1934 he was appointed senior lecturer in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at Kiev State University where he worked for the rest of his life, working also from 1937 in the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, where he also worked until the end of his life, Anatoly K. Babko obtained his PhD degree in 1937 and the degree of DSc in 1940.  In 1943 he was promoted to full professor at Kiev State University. In 1963 Anatoly K. Babko was elected a member of the Analytical Che­mistry Commission of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). Anatoly K. Babko’s scientific work was carried out simultaneously at the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Aca­demy of Sciences of Ukraine, where he headed the Department of Analytical Chemistry from 1941 to 1968, and at Kyiv State University, where he headed the Department of Analytical Chemistry from 1944 to 1960, after which he retained the title of professor during  1960–1968. In 1948 year Anatoly K. Babko elected as Corresponding Member to the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, and in 1957 he became a full member (Academician) of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. In 1966 he was awarded the title of “Honoured Scientist of Ukraine”. The scientific interests of Anatoly K. Babko ranged widely, especially in regard to fundamental aspects of analytical chemistry, applications of organic reagents in inorganic analysis, chemistry of complex compounds (including heteropolyacids), analytical applications of complex compounds in photometry, luminescence and chemiluminescence, ion chromatography and extraction. A significant achievement of Anatoly K. Babko was in the area of systematic physicochemical research of complex compounds in solution based on their photometric properties. He showed the stability constants of complexes to be highly important, and demonstrated the relevance of the step-wise character of the dissociation of complex compounds. Anatoliy K. Babko was a talented organizer of scientific seminars and conferences, a member of the editorial board of the «Journal of Analytical Chemistry», «Ukrainian Chemical Journal», where from 1958 to 1968 he was its editor-in-chief. His highly professional annual reviews of the development of analytical che­mistry during 1957–1967 were published in the journal «Zavodska Laboratoriya» – they were relevant and valuable for employees of analytical laboratories. Anatoly K. Babko supervised 50 PhD and 9 DSc theses, and founded the Kyiv School of Analytical Chemists., he published more than 450 scientific works and 8 books that were translated into several languages. His monograph «Physico-chemical analysis of complex compounds in solutions» and other textbooks are especially valuable. His scientific heritage continues to this day. In сelebrating the 120th anniversary of the birth of Anatoly K. Babko, scientists – che­mists, students and followers gratefully recall his benevolence, hard work, scientific, pedagogical and organizational talent. His active and purposeful nature will always remain in our memory of Anatoly K. Babko, who throughout his life maintained love and devotion to science. – who through all his life maintained a love and loyalty to science.