Who discovered the phenomenon of radioactivity and how did this happen?

The article tells about who discovered the phenomenon of radioactivity, when it happened and under what circumstances.

Radioactivity

Modern world and industry are unlikely to be able to do without nuclear energy. Nuclear reactors feed submarines, provide electricity to entire cities, and special energy sources based on radioactive decay are installed on artificial satellites and robots that study other planets.

Radioactivity was discovered at the very end of the XIX century. However, like many other important discoveries in various fields of science. But which scientist first discovered the phenomenon of radioactivity and how did this happen? We will talk about this in this article.

Opening

This very important event for science occurred in 1896 and was performed by A. Becquerel when studying the possible connection of luminescence and recently discovered so-called x-rays.

According to the recollections of Becquerel himself, he came up with the idea that, perhaps, any luminescence is also accompanied by x-rays? In order to test his guess, he used several chemical compounds, including one of the uranium salts, which glowed in the dark. Further, having held it under the sun's rays, the scientist wrapped the salt in a dark paper and put it in a closet on a photographic plate, which, in turn, was also packed in a light-proof wrapper. Later, having shown it, Becquerel replaced the exact image of a piece of salt. But since the luminescence could not overcome the paper, it means that the X-ray radiation lit up the plate. So now we know who first discovered the phenomenon of radioactivity. True, the scientist himself did not yet fully understand what discovery he had made. But first things first.

Meeting of the Academy of Sciences

A little later in the same year, at a meeting in the Academy of Sciences of Paris, Becquerel made a report "On radiation produced by phosphorescence." But after some time in his theory and conclusions had to make adjustments. Thus, during one of the experiments, without waiting for good and sunny weather, the scientist put a uranium compound on the photographic plate, which was not irradiated with light. Nevertheless, the plate still reflected its clear structure.

On March 2 of the same year, Becquerel presented to the Academy of Sciences a new work, which described the radiation emitted by phosphorescent bodies. Now we know which of the scientists discovered the phenomenon of radioactivity.

Further experiments

Pursuing further studies of the phenomenon of radioactivity, Becquerel tried many substances, including metal uranium. And every time on the photographic plate there were always traces. And placing a metal cross between the radiation source and the plate, the scientist received, as he would now say, his X-ray. So we sorted out the question of who discovered the phenomenon of radioactivity.

It was then that it became clear that Becquerel had discovered a completely new type of invisible rays that could pass through any objects, but at the same time they were not X-rays.

It was also clarified that the intensity of radioactive radiation depends on the amount of uranium itself in chemical preparations, and not on their species. It was Becquerel who shared his scientific achievements and theories with the couple Pierre and Marie Curie, who later established the radioactivity emitted by thorium, and discovered two entirely new elements, later called polonium and radium. And when analyzing the question "who discovered the phenomenon of radioactivity," many people mistakenly attribute this merit to the Curie couple.

Effects on living organisms

When it became known that radioactive radiation emitted all uranium compounds, Becquerel gradually returned to studying the phosphor. But he managed to make one more important discovery - the effect of radioactive rays on biological organisms. So Becquerel was not only the first to discover the phenomenon of radioactivity, but also to those who established his influence on living beings.

For one of the lectures, he lent the radioactive substance to the Curie couple and put it in his pocket. After the lecture, returning it to the owners, the scientist noticed a strong reddening of the skin, which had the shape of a test tube. Pierre Curie, after listening to his conjectures, decided to experiment - for ten hours he wore a tube tied to his arm, containing radium. And in the end he received a severe ulcer, which did not heal for several months.

So we sorted out the question of which of the scientists first discovered the phenomenon of radioactivity. This is how the influence of radioactivity on biological organisms was discovered. But despite this, the Curie couple, by the way, continued to study radiation materials, and Maria Curie died from radiation sickness. Her personal belongings are still kept in a special lead-in storage, since the radiation dose accumulated by them nearly 100 years ago is still too dangerous.