Fialkov Y. was born 1 July 1931 in the family of the known scientist-chemist, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences Y. A. Fialkov has made a significant contribution to the development of chemistry of the complex compounds and was the founder of pharmaceutical chemistry in Ukraine. His father immolated to a talented young man love for chemistry. In his memoirs, "the Fate of the truth" Yuri Yakovlevich recalled that the first chemical experiments has began before the war with the attempts of making the "philosopher's stone". At the age of 14 is being a prodigy in the chemical field, as he was known at school, made his first scientific report on iodine. However, chemistry wasn’t his only interest. He was well aware in literature, arts, also adored classical music and was fond of the theatre. He even has doubts about his future. After graduating in 1949 with a silver medal from the Kyiv secondary school № 86 Y. Y. Fialkov began his studying at the chemistry Department of Taras Shevchenko National University and at the same time attended evening classes at the conservatory. However, after the first year of studying he chose chemistry.
He graduated with honors from the University in 1954, majoring in "Inorganic chemistry" and "Radiochemistry". After that, on 1 of August 1994, Y. Y. Fialkov started his career as lecture assistant of the General chemistry department of the Silica Institute. In September of the same year, the Institute of Silicate was joined to the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, and from September 18, 1954 Yuri Yakovlevich has began his work in the KPI.
In October 1957 Fialkov Y. has defended the candidate's dissertation, and on 16th December, 1957, he was appointed head of the new (at that time only on paper) laboratory of radiochemical department of physical and colloid chemistry, chemical engineering faculty of the KPI. It was Ukraine's first radiochemical laboratory, and so everything had to start from scratch. Thanks to the energy and talent of Y. Y. Fialkov, in the middle of the 1959 the laboratory was accepted and approved by all instance. A considerable amount of interesting work was fulfilled in this lab with the use of radioisotopes to study the properties of non-aqueous electrolyte solutions. Y. Y. Fialkov’s monograph on "Application of isotopes in chemistry and chemical technologies" (1975.) was prosperous, but, unfortunately, the final completion of the works in this direction. Lately, the operations with isotopes wasn’t carried out in the laboratory of radiochemistry (name is remained).
In 1961, Y. Y. Fialkov has received the diploma of a senior researcher; two years later he was elected to the post of assistant professor in the Department of physical and colloidal chemistry on faculty of chemical technology, two years later being at the age of 34, he has brilliantly defended his doctoral thesis, and in 1967 he became a Professor in the Department of physical and colloid chemistry, and in 1975 - head of the Department, which was headed by him until 1998. The last four years of his life Y. Y. Fialkov worked as Professor of the Department and for health reasons he had to resign from the post of head. However, in this difficult period, he has remained the informal leader of the Department.
Y. Y. Fialkov has created one of the well-known, not only at the territory of the former USSR, but also outside of the scientific schools that were doing research in the field of physical and chemical analysis and physical chemistry of non-aqueous solutions. The result of these studies was the creation of a theory that explained the influence of nature of solvent on the various equilibrium and transport processes in liquid systems. This, in turn, allowed the development of General principles for the use of solvent as a means to control the chemical process. In addition, Y. Y. Fialkov and his coworkers have developed in their works the theory of electrical conductivity in solutions. Fialkov Y. Y. was awarded the State prize of the USSR in 1987 for the research in the field of physical chemistry of non-aqueous solutions.
The results of longstanding scientific activity of Y. Y. Fialkov were over 350 works and inventions, among them 10 monographs. The most prominent are: "Double fluid systems" (1969); "Physical chemistry of non-aqueous solutions" (1973), "Principles of physical-chemical analysis" (1976); "Metal plating from non-aqueous solutions" (1985); "The solvent as a means of chemical process control" (1988); "Physical and chemical analysis of liquid systems and solutions" (1992). Many of them were translated into foreign languages.
During Fialkov Y.Y. teaching career in the KPI he read the fundamental course of physical chemistry for the students of CTF. Besides, he was constantly invited to teach various courses in other educational institutions of Ukraine. Some of these courses ("Theory of chemical processes", "Chemistry isotopes" and "Chemical physics") were first developed and read by Y. Y. Fialkov. It was a very interesting, unique, artistic and charismatic lecturer, whose reading were visited students from other universities. His lectures were called "performances of Professor Fialkov". He was a man of encyclopedic knowledge which he gladly shared with his students. Under his leadership were defended the thesis 3 doctors and 52 candidates of Sciences.
Y. Y. Fialkov lectured and gave presentations in the universities of Russia, USA, France, Germany, Poland, Cuba and Latvia, where he was invited to participate in scientific symposia, conferences, seminars and to conduct joint scientific work. The scholars were also not remained without attention of Y. Y. Fialkov. For high school students and vocational schools he had developed an experimental textbook on chemistry for the enchanted studying of the subject.
Y. Y. Fialkov successfully combined varied scientific and pedagogical activity with diverse scientific and organizational activity. He was a member of the scientific Council of the USSR and Ukraine, was a part of methodological and scientific-technical councils of the USSR Ministry of higher education, headed the section of higher education of the Ukrainian Republican Department of D. I. Mendeleev all-Union chemical society and worked in several specialized councils.
Creative and conscientious scientific pedagogical work of Y. Y. Fialkov was marked by awarding the title of laureate of the USSR State prize (1987 g.)of the honored science and technology figure of Ukraine (1998.), distinguished professor of NTUU "KPI" (1998..), laureate of the medal of the M. S. Kurnakov Academy .
Y. Y. Fialkov is worldwide renowned not only as a physical and chemical scientist, but also as a talented, bright and extraordinary person who popularize chemical knowledge. He is the author of over 10 books for children, the first of which was released in 1960 and was called "Stories of chemistry". Also it should be noted the favorite offspring of Yury Yakovlevich - biographical sketches about M. V. Lomonosov "Mikhail Vasilevich Lomonosov" (1968) and "I did my very utmost" (1972). Most of his books, namely "the Ninth sign" (1965), "Core - shot!" (1966), "In the cell №..." (1969), "Extraordinary properties of ordinary solutions" (1978), " Light of invisible " (1984) with tales about Lomonosov have been translated into many languages (over 15), among which English , French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Hungarian, Polish, Bulgarian. The memory of Y. Y. Fialkov as a scientist or writer in the children's books which very successfully combined the principles of science and artistry, can be found even in the textbook "Children's literature" (publishing house "Prosveschenie", Moscow, 1989), which recommended by the State Committee of the USSR for students of pedagogical schools.
It should be mentioned that is know only a few people: in 1962 in the Kyiv publishing house "Molod" under the alias "Yuri Tsvetkov" was published the fantastic collection of stories written by Y. Y. Fialcove "Looking for a Joachim Kunz".
Despite the fact that Yuri Yakovlevich was always worked hard, his life was not restricted to the work. He was traveled with a great pleasure, was a relentless kayaker, an admirer of literature and art. Sometimes, passing by his office in the chemical building it could be heard as Yuri Yakovlevich was whistling operatic arias, which he knew well. The Fialkov family owned one of Ukraine's largest private collections of records with compositions of classical music.
Friends recall that Y. Y. Fialkov in any company immediately attracted the attention of a bright, imaginative, sometimes ironic sayings on different topics, was open for jokes and friendly pranks ...
Y. Y. Fialkov life journey was ended on 20th August 2002. According to his daughter words, he died with a book in hand, reading literally to the last breath. The man was mean and his death is mean too..
Many creative plans, ideas and dreams Yuri Yakovlevich has remained unfulfilled. That's why paraphrased the title of his book about Lomonosov, we say: “He didn’t do everything he could ".
I. M. Astrelin, Dean of the faculty of CTF, doctor of technical Sciences, professor, G. A. Rudnicka, Assoc. professor of the Physical chemistry department, PhD.