Henri Becquerel

Antoine Henri Becquerel (December 15, 1852 – August 25, 1908) was a French physicist, Nobel laureate, and one of the discoverers of radioactivity.

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December 15 - 1852 - August 25 - 1908 - French - Physicist

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Becquerel was born in Paris into a scientific family which, including him and his son, produced four generations of scientists. He studied science at the École Polytechnique and engineering at the École des Ponts et Chaussées. In 1892 he became the third in his family to occupy the physics chair at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. In 1894 he became chief engineer in the Department of Bridges and Highways.

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Paris - École Polytechnique - École des Ponts et Chaussées - 1892 - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - 1894

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In 1896, Becquerel accidentally discovered radioactivity while investigating phosphorescence in uranium salts. Investigating the work of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, Becquerel wrapped a fluorescent mineral, potassium uranyl sulfate, in photographic plates and black material in preparation for an experiment requiring bright sunlight. However, prior to actually performing the experiment, Becquerel found that the photographic plates were fully exposed. This discovery led Becquerel to investigate the spontaneous emission of nuclear radiation. In 1903 he shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Pierre and Marie Curie "in recognition of the extraordinary services he has rendered by his discovery of spontaneous radioactivity".

Related Topics:
1896 - Radioactivity - Phosphorescence - Uranium - Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen - Potassium uranyl sulfate - 1903 - Nobel Prize in Physics - Pierre - Marie Curie

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In 1908, the year of his death, he was elected permanent secretary of the Académie des Sciences. He died at the age of 55 in Le Croisic.

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1908 - Académie des Sciences - Le Croisic

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The SI unit for radioactivity, the becquerel (Bq) is named after him, and also there are Becquerel craters on the Moon and Mars.

Related Topics:
SI - Becquerel - Becquerel craters - Moon - Mars

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