![]() Whilst the Curies were convinced that they had identified two novel elements, they knew that to achieve formal scientific recognition they would need to create pure samples of the elements rather than impure extracts and establish their atomic weights through mass spectroscopy 7. This second element was named radium due to its intense radioactivity, a factor of two million times more than uranium 2! The name polonium was coined for this putative new element, named for her land of birth.Ĭontinuing chemical purification processes by the Curies identified a second element, which they published about in December 1898. On 18 July 1898, the Curies announced in an article that they had succeeded in isolating an extract, strong in the element bismuth, in which a new radioactive substance resided. Thus, the Curies used multiple chemical techniques, such as fine grinding and fractional distillation to purify out this novel element. She therefore deduced that another unknown substance must be present and accounting for it. Marie found however that pitchblende ore, an impure form of uranium oxide, seemed to have much more radioactivity than would be expected from its extractable uranium content alone. She also discovered that the only other known element at that time that was also radioactive was thorium. In 1898, Pierre switched from researching piezoelectricity and crystallography, to join his wife in her radioactive research. By this time she had already established some basic insights into the properties of radioactivity including the fact that the quantity of rays emitted by uranium correlated well with the quantity of uranium yet did not relate to the chemical structure of the uranium compound nor any external ambient conditions. Nevertheless, despite this severely limited workspace, the Curies performed trailblazing research here for four years from 1898 to 1902. The roof was leaky such that water constantly dripped into the shed during rainy days and lacked adequate ventilation, becoming unbearably hot in the summer 2. It had no real floor, an old rusty stove, dilapidated tables and a chalkboard. It was a medium sized shoddy wooden shed at one time used as a cadaveric dissection room for medical students. ![]() On first sight it would have been harder to find less propitious accommodation to perform cutting edge science. Eventually space was found for her in the basement of Pierre’s School of Physics. Unfortunately, it was not possible for Marie to find space at any local laboratories to undertake her research. At this point, Pierre also focused his efforts on working with his wife. In 1898, Marie chose to investigate Henri Becquerel’s 1896 discovery of radioactivity for her doctorate. They quickly bonded over a common enthusiasm for science, and they wed on 26 July 1895 2. Pierre first met Marie Sklodowska (1867-1934) when she asked to undertake research in his laboratory at the School of Physics. It was here that Pierre received his Doctorate in Science in 1895 1. In 1883, Pierre left the Sorbonne, to take a position at the École Municipale de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles - or the School of Physics for short – on Rue Lhomond in Paris (now called the École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles (ESPCI)). Their joint scientific endeavors ended in 1883 when Jacques was appointed as a lecturer in mineralogy in the South of France at the University of Montpellier. It was used by Marie Curie to measure the tiny charges generated by radium. ![]() They invented the quartz piezoelectrometer, which is thought to have been the first practical application of the piezoelectric effect. The brothers demonstrated the "converse piezoelectric effect" in 1882 3. Piezoelectricityįollowing graduation, he was employed by the Sorbonne as a laboratory demonstrator, where he collaborated with his brother Jacques (1856-1941), during which time they co-discovered piezoelectricity, which they first reported in 1880 3,4. He graduated with a Licence in Physics (≡ Masters) from the Sorbonne in 1878. Pierre was home-schooled for his early education. Both his father, Eugène (1827-1910), and his grandfather, Paul Étienne François Gustave (1799-1853), were physicians, the latter working for a time in London, UK 1. ![]()
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