1941Glenn T. Seaborg Begins Work on New Atomic Nuclei

Glenn T. Seaborg takes over McMillan's work creating new ato...
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1913
1931
1940
1941

⚛️ Concept of Isotopes Proposed

Frederick Soddy proposes the concept of isotopes, that elements with the same chemical properties may have differing atomic weights.
Concept of Isotopes Proposed (1913)
IsotopesRadioactivityFrederick SoddyNuclear ChemistryAtomic PhysicsEarly 20th Century Chemistry
United KingdomUnited Kingdom

💧 Urey Discovers Deuterium

Harold Urey discovers deuterium by fractionally distilling liquid hydrogen.
Urey Discovers Deuterium (1931)
IsotopesDeuteriumHeavy WaterUreyNuclear ChemistryFractional DistillationAtomic Physics20th Century Science
United StatesUnited States

🧪 Edwin McMillan and Philip H. Abelson Identify Neptunium

Edwin McMillan and Philip H. Abelson identify neptunium, the lightest and first synthesized transuranium element, found in the products of uranium fission. McMillan would found a lab at Berkeley that would be involved in the discovery of many new elements and isotopes.
Edwin McMillan and Philip H. Abelson Identify Neptunium (1940)
Nuclear ChemistryTransuranium ElementsNeptuniumEdwin McMillanPhilip H. AbelsonRadioactivityAtomic Physics1940s
United StatesUnited States

⚛️ Glenn T. Seaborg Begins Work on New Atomic Nuclei

Glenn T. Seaborg takes over McMillan's work creating new atomic nuclei. Pioneers method of neutron capture and later through other nuclear reactions. Would become the principal or co-discoverer of nine new chemical elements, and dozens of new isotopes of existing elements.
Glenn T. Seaborg Begins Work on New Atomic Nuclei (1941)
Nuclear ChemistryGlenn T. SeaborgTransuranium ElementsRadioactivityIsotopesAtomic PhysicsNeutron Capture1940s
United StatesUnited States