Introductory Nuclear Chemistry & Medical Imaging

Henri Becquerel

French chemist who first observed natural radioactivity while experimenting with uranium salts and photographic plates.

Photographic Plate Experiment

Method used by Becquerel in which darkening plates revealed invisible radiation emitted by uranium salts.

Marie Curie

Scientist who coined the term “radioactive” and co-discovered the elements polonium and radium.

Radioactivity

Spontaneous emission of energy or particles from unstable atomic nuclei.

Polonium

Radioactive element discovered by the Curies, named after Poland.

Radium

Highly radioactive element discovered by the Curies; undergoes alpha decay and was historically used in medicine.

Nuclear Physics

Field of science that studies atomic nuclei and the processes of radioactivity and nuclear reactions.

X-ray Imaging

Medical technique that uses low-dose ionizing radiation to produce images of internal structures.

Radiopharmaceutical

Radioactive isotope administered to