# Roman Mertslin

Roman Viktorovich Mertslin (Russian: Роман Викторович Мерцлин; 17 October 1903 – 11 February 1971) was a Soviet chemist, a Doctor of Chemical Sciences, a vice-rector for scientific studies (1940–1941, 1946–1950), a rector (1941–1945) of Molotov (Perm) University, a rector (1950–1965) of Saratov Chernyshevsky State University. He founded the scientific school of physical and chemical analysis, heterogeneous equilibria and developed the method of isothermal cross sections.

## Biography

In 1924, Mertslin graduated from the Department of Physics and Mathematics of Saratov Chernyshevsky State University. He taught Chemistry at the Timiryazev Agricultural College in Saratov Oblast.
In 1928, he got the position of Senior Analytical Chemist at the Rubezhansky Chemical Plant in Donbass. Since 1929, he was an Assistant of the Head of the Laboratory of the Alapaevsk Metallurgical Plant in Sverdlovsk Region.
From 1929 to 1932, Mertslin worked as a lecturer of the Perm Institute of Chemical Technology and at the Department of Physical Chemistry of Perm University.
From 1932 to 1935, he was away on assignment at the NBC Protection Military Academy.
In 1935, he became a professor and the Head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at Perm University. He was the Head of the Department til 1950 (before returning to Saratov).
Form 1937 to 1938, he was the Dean of the Chemical Department at Perm University.
In 1939, he defended his Doctor's Thesis “Foliation as a method of Physical and Chemical Analysis of multicomponent systems” at Moscow University.
From September 1940 to January 1944, Mertslin acted as a Vice-rector for Scientific and Educational Work at Molotov (Perm) University.
Since 25 August 1941, he was officially a vice-rector. A. I. Bukirev, who was the rector, went to the Great Patriotic War, that's why Mertslin began to perform the duties of the rector. At that time D. E. Kharitonov performed as a vice-rector for scientific and educational work instead of Mertslin.
Since 3 January 1944, Mertslin officially got the position of a rector of Molotov University. Mertslin was a rector until 1946 when A. I. Bukirev returned from the front of the Great Patriotic War.
From May 1946 to December 1950, Mertslin was a Vice-rector for Scientific work.
In 1950, he returned to Saratov. After that, V. F. Ust-Kachkintsev became a vice-rector.
From 1950 to 1965, he was a rector of Saratov Chernyshevsky State University and the Head of the Department of Physical and Chemical Analysis. Since 1965, he was the Head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry.
Roman Viktorovich Mertslin died on February 11 in 1971 at the age of 67. He was buried at the Saratov's Voskresnoe Cemetery.

## Scientific achievements

During his work at Perm University, Mertslin undertook fundamental researches in the field of Physical and Chemical Analysis and developed an isothermal cross-section method for studying multi-component systems. Mertslin was well-known in the scientific world not only in Russia but also abroad. He is the co-author of the books “The Method of Sections. Its application to the study of the multiphase state of multicomponent systems” (1969), “Heterogeneous equilibria” (1971), and the author of more than 120 scientific articles.
Mertslin made a lot of important achievements when he was the Head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at Saratov State University. Other founders and he studied molecular, supramolecular systems and the creation of novel materials with specified properties. Together with his colleagues — Y. Y. Dodonov and N. I. Nikurashina, Mertslin led the foundations of the methodology for the study of various Physical and Chemical properties of individual, mixed solvents and salt systems based on them.

## Social activities

In Perm, starting from 1936, Mertslin was a deputy of the district Council of Workers' Deputies and a member of other committeesof higher education and scientific institutions. In Saratov, in 1956, Mertslin became a member of the Regional committee CPSU.
He was a delegate of the famous 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He had many orders and medals, also for his public activities.
As part of various Soviet delegations, Meritslin visited GDR, Finland, Romania and was the Head of the delegation of rectors of five Soviet Universities in United States.

## Awards

In 1948, Mertslin got the title of Honored Scientist of the RSFSR.
For his long-term fruitful labours and accomplishments in scientific, pedagogical, and social activities, Mertslin got several orders, such as the Order of Lenin, Order of the Red Banner of Labour and other medals.

## Students and followers

* Professor N. I. Nikurashina – the Head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at Saratov Chernyshevsky State University;
* Professor E. F. Zhuravlev – the Head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at Bashkir University;
* Professor I. L. Krupatkin – the Founder of the Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry at Tver University;
* Professor V. F. Ust-Kachkintsev, associate professors K. I. Mochalov; A. A. Volkov, A.D. Sheveleva, S. F. Kudryashov, Doctor of Chemical Sciences F. R. Verzhbitsky, O. S. Kudryashova, S. A. Mazunin (Perm University);
* Professors K. K. Ilyin, A. G. Demakhin at Saratov Chernyshevsky State University;
* D. A. Khisaeva (Ufa) at Bashkir Scientific Research Design Institute of Oil products.