Historical Chemistry

By Eli wiggins

  • 1934 uranium

    In 1934, chemists discovered artificial transmutation of uranium, which triggered great excitement in science. Uranium with an atomic number of 92, but Italian physicist Enrico Fermi thought that he had synthesized elements with atomic numbers beyond the limit recognized on the periodic table. Radiochemist Otto Hahn helped explain Fermi's results. Joined by Fritz Strassman, the team began investigating neutron-induced uranium decay at the end of 1934.

  • transurance

    By 1937 Hahn was sure of the chemical evidence of transuranes

  • politics

    By 1938, the political situation in Germany had become dangerous for Meitner. anti Nazi Hahn had to be careful and Strassman had to be careful

  • nuclear findings

    Nuclear investigators in both fields had collaborated to provide a stunning explanation for the mysterious results of uranium's forced transformation. Also in 1939, Meitner wrote to Hahn: I am quite certain that the two of you really do have a splitting to Ba, an I find that to be a truly beautiful result,for which i most heartily congratulate you Strassman.

  • Nobel Prize

    Hahn was awarded the 1944 Nobel Prize in chemistry.

  • Death

    Lise Meitner was not popularly recognized for her role in clarifying the process that she first explained and named until well after her death in 1968.