Pioneering work in nuclear chemistry Glenn T. Seaborg

seaborg in lab

seaborg remained @ university of california, berkeley, post-doctoral research. followed frederick soddy s work investigating isotopes , contributed discovery of more 100 isotopes of elements. using 1 of lawrence s advanced cyclotrons, john livingood, fred fairbrother, , seaborg created new isotope of iron, iron-59 (fe-59) in 1937. iron-59 useful in studies of hemoglobin in human blood. in 1938, livingood , seaborg collaborated (as did 5 years) create important isotope of iodine, iodine-131 (i-131), still used treat thyroid disease. (many years later, credited prolonging life of seaborg s mother.) result of these , other contributions, seaborg regarded pioneer in nuclear medicine , 1 of prolific discoverers of isotopes.

in 1939 became instructor in chemistry @ berkeley, promoted assistant professor in 1941 , professor in 1945. university of california, berkeley, physicist edwin mcmillan led team discovered element 93, named neptunium in 1940. in november, persuaded leave berkeley temporarily assist urgent research in radar technology. since seaborg , colleagues had perfected mcmillan s oxidation-reduction technique isolating neptunium, asked mcmillan permission continue research , search element 94. mcmillan agreed collaboration. seaborg first reported alpha decay proportionate fraction of element 93 under observation. first hypothesis alpha particle accumulation contamination uranium, produces alpha-decay particles; analysis of alpha-decay particles ruled out. seaborg postulated distinct alpha-producing element being formed element 93.

in february 1941, seaborg , collaborators produced plutonium-239 through bombardment of uranium. in experiments bombarding uranium deuterons, observed creation of neptunium, element 93. underwent beta-decay, forming new element, plutonium, 94 protons. plutonium stable, undergoes alpha-decay, explained presence of alpha particles coming neptunium. thus, on march 28, 1941, seaborg, physicist emilio segrè , berkeley chemist joseph w. kennedy able show plutonium (then known element 94) fissile, important distinction crucial decisions made in directing manhattan project research. in 1966, room 307 of gilman hall on campus @ berkeley, seaborg did work, declared u.s. national historic landmark.

in addition plutonium, credited lead discoverer of americium, curium, , berkelium, , co-discoverer of californium, einsteinium, fermium, mendelevium, nobelium , seaborgium. shared nobel prize in chemistry in 1951 edwin mcmillan discoveries in chemistry of first transuranium elements.