Henri Becquerel

The Discovery of Radioactivity - Becquerel

Antoine Henri Becquerel (1852-1908) born in Paris, was a physicist, Nobel laureate, and member of a distinguished wealthy household of scholars and known physicists. What was undoubtedly his greatest accomplishment, and remains his legacy, is being the first person to discover evidence of radioactivity. In 1896, in order to study the properties of x-rays (which has been discovered only a year earlier), he was using naturally fluorescent minerals - He had long been intrigued in phosphorescence "the emission of light of one colour following a body's exposure to light of another colour" which was the foundation for his discovery. By leaving a slice of radium in his vest pocket, then realising the burning effects, it led to the development of radiotherapy, the treatment of cancer today, as he uncovered that radioactivity could serve medical purposes too. His discovery of uraniums radioactive qualities forced scientists to alter all their plans on atomic structure. He also observed that radiation could discharge electrified bodies. His death, although stated was due to unknown causes, was most likely as a result of serious burns that had developed on his skin, from the handling of radioactive materials.