Polonium

History

Also called Radium F, polonium was discovered by Marie Curie and her husband Pierre Curie in 1898 and was later named after Marie's home land of Poland. Poland at the time was under Russian, Prussian and Austrian domination, and not recognized as an independent country. It was Marie's hope that naming the element after her home land would add notoriety to its plight. Polonium may be the first element named to highlight a political controversy.

Related Topics:
Marie Curie - Pierre Curie - 1898 - Poland - Domination

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This element was the first one discovered by the Curies while they were investigating the cause of pitchblende radioactivity. The pitchblende, after removal of uranium and radium, was more radioactive than both radium and uranium put together. This spurred them on to find the element. The electroscope showed it separating with bismuth.

Related Topics:
Pitchblende - Radioactivity

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