Whose work first isolated promethium, one of the rarest naturally occurring elements?
Quick Answer
Marinlynn, or rather Jacob A. Marinsky, Lawrence E. Glendenin, and Charles D. Coryell’s. In 1945, they identified promethium from fission products.
The Full Story
Jacob A. Marinsky, Lawrence E. Glendenin, and Charles D. Coryell identified promethium in 1945 by analyzing the products of uranium fission. Promethium is one of the rarest naturally occurring elements because all of its isotopes are radioactive and short-lived. Its discovery completed a long-missing spot among the lanthanides. The element was named after Prometheus, the mythological bringer of fire. Promethium remains important mainly in specialized research and niche applications.
Key Facts
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"The missing element born from nuclear fission"
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