History of Radium
Radium was discovered by Marie Curie and her husband, Pierre Curie in 1898. Marie Curie was the first female to win two Nobel Prizes (one in physics & one in chemistry). Curie later died from the radioactivity of the element she dedicated her life to.
"The preparation of pure radium salts and the determination of the atomic weight of radium have proved positively that radium is a new element and have enabled a definite position to be assigned to it." ~Marie Curie |
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Video about Marie Curie's life and contributions
Before the dangers of radium were understood, it was commonly used in hair tonics, toothpaste, ointments, elixirs, aircraft instrument dials, and clock/watch dials in the 1900s. It was also used to treat cancer and believed to be an amazing cure for disease.
"Twenty-three years ago radium was unknown. Today, thanks to constant laboratory work, the power of this most unusual of elements is at your disposal. Through the medium of Undark, radium serves you safely and surely. Does Undark really contain radium? Most assuredly."
"Ingersoll Radiolites are real luminous dial watches. The figures are made of Ingersoll Radiolite and the hands thickly coated with it. Radiolite is a substance containing real radium.The radium keeps the hands and figures glowing time in the dark for twelve years or more without need of exposure to the light." |
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