The early days of chemical ionization: A reminiscence

A narrative account is given of the events leading to the discovery of chemical ionization in the laboratories of the Humble Oil and Refining Company in 1965. The discovery was unplanned in the sense that it resulted from the observation of unanticipated phenomena made In the course of experiments undertaken for a different purpose. However, the sequence of events which occurred IS an Illustration of the discovery of a practical, useful result from a program of research which was primarily of a basic nature but with ancillary awareness of possible practical implications.