Mario J. Molina

@Notable Hispanic Scientists, Family and Family ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Mario Molina is a Nobel Prize winning chemist from Mexico who co-developed the theory of ozone depletion due to CFCs Hispanic Scientists Mexican University Of California, Berkeley Scientists Chemists Pisces Celebrities Mario Molina is a renowned chemist who studied the effects of man-made compounds on the atmosphere and pioneered the theory of CFC and ozone depletion. Ever since his childhood, Molina was attracted towards science and his aunt Esther who was a chemist propelled his interest by helping him with his experiments, which he conducted in a make shift laboratory set up in a bathroom of their family house. Falling in line with family’s practice of studying abroad, Mario attended school in Switzerland. The young lad was eager to visit the continent which he viewed as an opportunity to interact with students who had an aptitude for the sciences; but however he was met with disappointment. He then pursued studies which catered to his goal of becoming a physical scientist. To succeed in his endeavour, he went to the United States and enrolled in University of California, which later became central to his research work. In association with F. Sherwood Rowland he studied the chemical reactivity of CFC in the atmosphere and came up with startling conclusions. His findings suggested that the CFC’s were responsible for the corrosion of ozone layer present in the stratosphere. He was even awarded a Nobel Prize for his work in the field of environmental chemistry. To know more about his life and works read on.

Personal Details

Birthday: March 19, 1943 Nationality: Mexican Famous: Notable Hispanic Scientists, Hispanic Scientists, University Of California, Berkeley, Scientists, Chemists Hobbies: Recreation Hobbies, Crafts, Games Known as: Mario Molina, Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez Universities: University Of California, Berkeley University of California Berkeley National Autonomous University of Mexico University of Freiburg Notable Alumnis: University Of California Berkeley Information Detail Birthday March 19, 1943 Nationality Mexican Famous Notable Hispanic Scientists, Hispanic Scientists, University Of California, Berkeley, Scientists, Chemists Hobbies Recreation Hobbies, Crafts, Games Known as Mario Molina, Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez Universities University Of California, Berkeley University of California Berkeley National Autonomous University of Mexico University of Freiburg Notable Alumnis University Of California Berkeley Birth Place Mexico City Religion Catholicism Gender Male Father Roberto Molina-Pasquel Mother Leonor Henríquez Sun Sign Pisces Born in Mexico City Famous as Chemist

Mexico City

Mario J. Molina born at Unsplash Birth Place

Mario exchanged the nuptial vows with Luisa Y. Tan, who was a chemist herself in 1973 but the marriage culminated in divorce. The couple had a son named Felipe who is a practicing physician in Boston. Unsplash Personal Life

After separating from Luisa, he entered the wedlock with Guadalupe Álvarez, in 2006. Unsplash Personal Life

Mario J. Molina was the son of diplomat father Roberto Molina Pasquel and mother Leonor Henríquez. Born on March 19, 1943, Mario was close to his paternal aunt Esther Molina, whose profession had an ever-lasting impression on the young kid. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

A curious kid, Molina displayed an inclination towards gaining knowledge in science at an early age. Esther helped him set up a laboratory in a sparsely used bathroom of their house, in New Mexico City, and encouraged him to observe things around him. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

He received elementary education from schools in his native city and at the tender age of eleven attended the ‘Institut auf dem Rosenberg’ in Switzerland. It was customary in Molina’s family for kids to study abroad for a brief duration of time and Molina complied with the tradition. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

After returning to Mexico, he pursued chemical engineering from the ‘National Autonomous University of Mexico’. He successfully completed his bachelor’s degree from the institute in the year 1965. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

Following the completion of his undergraduate studies, the aspiring chemist pursued further studies from the ‘University of Freiburg’. At the institute he investigated the kinetic rates of polymerization reactions during his post graduation, which he completed in 1967. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

He was inducted into the research group headed by member of faculty George C. Pimentel. Under the tutelage of the professor he applied chemical lasers to understand how internal energy was distributed in the products formed during several chemical and photochemical reactions. Unsplash Career

He was awarded a doctoral degree in chemistry by the University of California in 1972. The following year he moved Irvine and assisted F. Sherwood Rowland in his research catering to chemistry of “hot atoms”. Unsplash Career

During the course of experiments they conducted to understand the properties of atoms that were formed as a result of radioactive process and possessed excessive translational energy, Mario was assigned the task of studying inert chemicals emanated by industries and their atmospheric reactivity. Unsplash Career

His research led him to the study of chlorofluorocarbons, which were major component of several industrial effluents released into the atmosphere. The duo of mentor and protégée observed that the CFCs once released showed very less chemical reactivity in the lower layers of atmosphere. Unsplash Career

At higher altitudes, the CFC molecule disintegrates due to solar radiation and the resulting chlorine depletes the ozone by reacting with the atomic oxygen which forms the ozone. Thus a higher concentration of CFC in the atmosphere corrodes the protective ozone layer of the atmosphere. Unsplash Career

Mario Molina is best known for his contribution towards the discovery of connection between CFCs and ozone depletion. It were through his efforts that several law enforcement bodies became aware of the harmful effects of these toxic industrial effluents, and legislation were laid out to prohibit the use of CFCs. Unsplash Major Works

Information	Detail
Birthday	March 19, 1943
Nationality	Mexican
Famous	Notable Hispanic Scientists, Hispanic Scientists, University Of California, Berkeley, Scientists, Chemists
Hobbies	Recreation Hobbies, Crafts, Games
Known as	Mario Molina, Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez
Universities	University Of California, Berkeley University of California Berkeley National Autonomous University of Mexico University of Freiburg
Notable Alumnis	University Of California Berkeley
Birth Place	Mexico City
Religion	Catholicism
Gender	Male
Father	Roberto Molina-Pasquel
Mother	Leonor Henríquez
Sun Sign	Pisces
Born in	Mexico City
Famous as	Chemist

Mario J. Molina

Mexican

Mar 19, 1943

Biography

Personal Details

Mexico City