The discovery of Marie Curie's radioactive substance

The research of Marie Curie at the beginning was to make a dissertation on the Natural Radiation that Becquerel discovered in 1896.

From 1898 she tried to find the characteristics of this emission accurately by measuring the maximum intensity (this intensity is very weak) of the ionization current that could be emitted in the air under its effect.

Marie Curie and her scientific work explore uranium ore (Photo: perso.orange.fr)

She will use later in her studies, electrostatic charge (électromètre = electron meter. The current generated by the movement of electrons) that Pierre corrected, would be perfectly suited to the studies of grandma She tried to determine by many analytical experiments whether or not uranium ore alone was emitted. She discovered that Thorium's compounds emit the same kind of rays.

Mineral uranium (Pechblende) is four times more active than expected. Marie concluded that if such a powerful uranium ore is due to the presence of elements called Radioactif (radioactive material), they have properties that turn out other substances and emit energy in the ore, but With a very small amount, it is difficult to see by classical chemical analysis method.

At that time Pierre collaborated with Marie. They planted themselves into a heavy and meticulous division of chemicals. At that time, the research was not funded as it is today, but the young couple have obtained a vacant warehouse and poor isolation during the snow and rain (unusual weather). They work with a maid named André Debierne. Thanks to an electrostatic meter, they obtained measurements of radioactivity in the parts produced by the chemical division.

In July 1898 they discovered the first substance they named Polonium, to celebrate Marie's homeland.

The analysis of Baryum obtained during the use of uranium minerals allowed them to show that there was a second radioactive element present with very small amounts that they called Radium and announced their discovery in 1898. just emphasized that the radioactivity of this substance is very High.

She also created a table of all known radioactive elements in 1910. The common points are on the same line.

RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS KNOWED IN 1910

Thorium. UraniumActiniumMésoThorium 1RadioUranium Meresonhorium 2Uranium XRadioActiniumRadioThoriumIoniumActinium XThorium XRadium  Radium AActinium AThorium ARadium BActinium B1Thorium BRadium CActinium B2Thorium BRadium C  Radium DActinium CThorium DRadium E  Radium F (Polonium)

Influence on society

The discovery of remote substances has brought many means to study the composition of atoms and atomic nuclei. Marie Curie has found applications of radioactive substances in Chemistry, in the treatment industry and especially in Biology. The curie treatment, which Pierre corrected before their wedding, was combined with the Anatomy and X-ray industry to fight cancer.

Marie asserts that it is dangerous if the radium is in the killer's hands . She set up more than 200 radiology rooms in the First World War, rescuing more than a million injured people.

Today, X-rays and radiologists are used in Medicine, in Archeology, in Geology, in the restoration of artworks and food preservation. In the near future, we hope to have useful new applications to be born, provided that scientists must match Science and Conscience.