Corvus+Frederick+Soddy's+Interpretation+of+Radium

Frederick Soddy's //The Interpretation of Radium// Aim Aaron Archuleta  Frederick Soddy’s achievements and extensive research on radioactivity and radium created a chain reaction that transformed the world. The research that Frederick Soddy compiled was published in many books, most importantly, The Interpretation of Radium. The discoveries and question Soddy posed in his works led to the creation of new military weaponry that represented this dark time in modern society. However, Soddy’s achievements were ahead of his time and were not to be used with the intentions of causing a world war that would endanger mankind. Soddy’s work in chemistry was revolutionary for the advancements it led to in future technology. “Frederick Soddy ‘for his contributions to our knowledge of the chemistry of radioactive substances, and his investigations into the origin and nature of isotopes’” (“The Nobel Prize”).However, after the death of his wife, Soddy began to research the social consequences of scientific research and the development of these discoveries. Soddy realized the potential hazards of his work and the damage it would create if it were put in the wrong hands. “He became a controversial figure and an outspoken critic on social issues, blaming scientists for their disregard of the social consequences of their work, including his own work on radioactivity” (Shampo, Kyle, Steensma). Frederick Soddy’s Interpretation of Radium led to the the development of nuclear warfare and the atomic bomb. The development that Soddy’s work led to endangered mankind and illustrates the corruption of morals in modern society.

Shampo, Marc A., Robert A. Kyle, and David P. Steensma. "Frederick Soddy—Pioneer in Radioactivity." NCBI. U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2011. Web. 08 Nov. 2013.

"The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1921". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 9 Nov 2013.

Audience Nick Nickerson  Frederick Soddy was a chemist from England that did extensive research on radioactivity and radium. He published numerous papers on radioactivity, including atomic disintegration, with the help of Professor Sir Ernest Rutherford. His most important book was his Interpretation of Radium which was published in 1920. In this book he explains the nature of radioactivity. The audience for this book would be anyone who is interested in or works in the field of science at the time. It’s numerous breakthroughs in the explanation of the nature of radioactivity helped people to understand how it works which eventually led to the creation of weapons such as the atomic bomb. “Frederick Soddy”. Famous Scientists, n.d. Web. 8 November 2013.

“Frederick Soddy”. University of Glasgow, n.d. Web. 8 November 2013.

Historical Jasmine Garner

Frederick Soddy, born in England, became exceptionally crucial to the understanding of nuclear chemistry. He, along with Ernest Rutherford, discovered critical facts regarding radioactivity and how isotopes react; essentially, it was he and Rutherford who discovered just what radioactivity is -- the decay of certain unstable isotopes into other elements (“Frederick Soddy”). His research aided in the construction and understanding of how to build an atomic bomb in that the fundamental knowledge of how atoms and isotopes work was necessary before a bomb utilizing such processes could be created. Soddy’s intellectual curiosity -- the results of which were published in his novel The Interpretation of Radium -- aided in the achievement of the most deadly and destruction weapon in history. Moreover, he explained how alpha, beta, and gamma radiation worked with his pivotal Displacement Law, which ultimately led to the coining of the term “isotope” (“Frederick Soddy”). Overall, Soddy’s work changed the course of history in that it defined the path America would take in its weaponry, and therefore directly altered the dynamics of international relations due to the bombings of Japan. He coined a term most widely used in today’s scientific world, as well as learned the secrets to creating the most destructive and lethal weapon in history.

“Frederick Soddy”. Famous Scientists, n.d. Web. 6 November 2013.

“Frederick Soddy”. University of Glasgow, n.d. Web. 6 November 2013.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">Cultural <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">Jasmine Garner

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Although Frederick Soddy had a lasting impact on nuclear chemistry, he also profoundly influenced means of expression within culture as well, namely literature. His work and his name are referenced in the renowned novel The World Set Free, written by the distinguished H.G. Wells (Lavine). The characters, at times, reference The Interpretation of Radium, Soddy’s most crucial work and discovery; the inspiration for the novel is truly immeasurable. Notably, Soddy depicted a world in which radioactive bombs had destroyed everything, and the sky was a burst of unnatural, shadowy colors; this imagery is also illustrated in The World Set Free (“Frederick Soddy Part of”). Overall, Soddy influenced one of the most inventive and forewarning novels to be written in the realm of science fiction. Undoubtedly he also influenced countless other works of art, literature, and science due to his indispensable discoveries.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">“Frederick Soddy Parts of a Life”. n.p., n.d. Web. 6 November 2013.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lavine, Matthew. A Cultural History of Radiation and Radioactivity in the United States, 1895-1945. Madison: ProQuest, 2008. Print.