Radioactivity is defined as a capacity possessed by some structures that are made up of atoms and that if they decompose spontaneously, they will produce radiation. This property was discovered in 1896 by Antoine Henri Becquerel, a scientist of French origin, who was conducting a series of experiments related to the luminescence of potassium and double uranium sulfate. In this investigation he came across the factthat uranium emitted radiation spontaneously and inexplicably at that time, although later and from that discovery, it was observed that other compounds possessed it. Currently through the use of the filing it is possible to take photographs.
Radioactivity can be classified into two types, one natural and the other artificial. The latter occurs when there is bombardment of different atomic nuclei with particles that contain large amounts of energy that make it possible to transform them into different nuclei, which is possible thanks to the energy contained in the particles that is required and can penetrate the nucleus causing instability. for that reason the nucleus begins with radioactive decay. On the other hand, when we speak of natural radioactivity, we refer to the process that occurs spontaneously in which the nucleus decomposes at the same time that it releases radioactivity and becomes a different nucleus.
The origins of radioactivity date back to the end of the nineteenth century, being Henri Becquerel a scientist from France who came across such a finding accidentally, when he was conducting an investigation on the luminescence that the Pechblende crystal presented and which is found inside the uranium. After this, Marie Curie, a scientist of Polish origin and of great importance within the community of chemists, made the term of establishment known to the world. Furthermore, it should be noted that Curie, together with her husband, carried out various investigations after Becquerel's discovery.
Over time they would end up discovering a series of compounds that, like uranium, had radioactivity, an example of these compounds is polonium and radium, the name of the first being given in honor of the scientist Marie Curie by her nationality.
