Corvus+2014-15+Fredrick+Soddy's+Interpretation+of+Radium

Aim-Tina: Frederick Soddy’s analysis of Radium stemmed from his curiosity in science and also his want to inform the public of said discoveries that he had previous done. Due to this, he wrote a book describing and analyzing his discoveries and published it. Soddy’s “...theory of isotopes...explains that different elements can be chemically indistinguishable but have different atomic weights and characteristics” (“Frederick Soddy”). This was simply one of his conclusions that pushed him to keep experimenting and to publish his book. When he published The Interpretation of Radium and the Structure of the Atom many of his theories began to be heard. Soddy described his own reasons for experimenting and writing the book as that “one of the main duties of science is the correlation of phenomena, apparently disconnected and even contradictory” (Soddy 1). This is one of the few explanations of his reasonings that he gave for the remainder of the book he discussed almost solely what he had learned, and simply that. However Frederick Soddy took major strides towards what America and the world know today as radioactive elements.

Works Cited: Soddy, Frederick. “The Interpretation of Radium and the Structure of the Atom”. G. P. Putnam’s Sons. Web. 30 Oct. 2014 “Frederick Soddy”. ORAU, n.d. Web. 6 November 2013

Audience-Connor: Frederick Soddy was a chemist that studied radium. Through the help of one of his professors, he published a book titled “Interpretation of Radium” in 1920. Through this books he shows the problems created through radium and what it does (ORAU). In the 1920’s, potentially the audience could range anywhere from scientists to those worried about radiation. There were many problems that were raging in the 20’s due to radium. He provided essentially the most in depth explanation of the radioactivity to aid the people in the world to understand what exactly is happening with radiation (NNDB). He was a revolutionary person in terms of explanation of something that had never been understood before. Frederick Soddy has now become a figurehead for scientists. His work and application to the people helps scientists even today apply better to their audiences. Frederick’s audience was the future, and that’s what he wrote for.

Works Cited: “Frederick Soddy”. NNDB n.d. Web. 6 November 2013 “Frederick Soddy”. ORAU, n.d. Web. 6 November 2013

Historical-Cassidy:

Frederick Soddy was an English radiochemist in the late 1800’s. Soddy came up with the theory that radioactivity is due to the transmutation of elements (NNDB). He was the first chemist to properly make these observations and correctly identify the cause of radioactivity. Soddy eventually received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his findings on radium and radioactivity. During the time period of his discovery, people were often oblivious to the facts and weren’t willing to listen to theories that they didn’t fully comprehend or went against their religious beliefs (Chemistry Explained). The information that Soddy provided to the science world still has left an impact on todays society, changing the perception and the way that people understand and use radioactivity. This coming of age renovations allowed scientists to better develop these nuclear weapons, making them more controlled and accurate. The historical impact of his findings was the resources he provided for future radiochemists.

Works Cited:

"Frederick Soddy." //Frederick Soddy //. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.

"Chemistry Explained." //Frederick Soddy //. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.

Cultural-Jesus: While many would believe the prospects of nuclear war were not thought up of until the 1940s, with the creation of the atomic bombs, Frederick Soddy gave the idea to the British government in 1915 in order to end World War 1. His interest in atomic energy would spur him on to write his book Interpretation of Radium, later earning himself the Nobel Prize. With his popularization of radium, it started to get dances named after it, and many products throughout the 1910-1920s used radium, which was thought at the time to cure diseases. Soddy believed in man, and said “A "turning point is being reached in the upward progress..." (Sclove) He would later on use his discoveries of atomic energy to create the idea of a technological utopia powered by atomic energy. He believed that in order for the world to get to this stage, fossil fuels would need to be abandoned for atomic energy, avoiding exhaustion of natural materials in the process. He also established atomic energy as to be used for mechanical powe r, not war, at first.

Works Cited Sclove, R. E. "From Alchemy to Atomic War: Frederick Soddy's "Technology Assessment" of Atomic Energy, 1900-1915." Science, Technology & Human Values 14.2 (1989): 163-94. Sage Publications, Inc., 11 Apr. 2009. Web. "Science in Popular Culture: Let’s Do the Radium Dance." Teaching with the Library of Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.