ABSTRACT
The phenomenon of radioactivity (the spontaneous emission of alpha, beta and gamma rays from certain natural heavy elements) was discovered in March 1896 by Becquerel. Following this, in December 1898, the discovery of radium was announced by Marie and Pierre Curie. However, although the existence of the new element had been established, it was an immense problem to refine it in any quantity and tons of the radioactive mineral ore, chemicals and water were required for only a few grams of radium.
