What Did Henri Becquerel Discover About Radioactivity?

Explore Henri Becquerel's accidental discovery of radioactivity in 1896 and its impact on science and technology.

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Henri Becquerel accidentally discovered radioactivity in 1896 while investigating phosphorescence in uranium salts. He observed that the uranium emitted radiation without exposure to external energy sources, leading to groundbreaking developments in physics and chemistry.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is radioactivity? Radioactivity is the process by which unstable atomic nuclei release energy and particles. It was first discovered by Henri Becquerel in 1896.
  2. How did Becquerel discover radioactivity? Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity accidentally while investigating phosphorescence in uranium salts, observing that uranium emitted radiation spontaneously.
  3. What were the implications of Becquerel's discovery? Becquerel's discovery of radioactivity led to significant advancements in both physics and chemistry, altering our understanding of atomic structure.
  4. When did Henri Becquerel win the Nobel Prize? Henri Becquerel won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 for his research on radioactivity, shared with Marie and Pierre Curie.

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