How Were Isotopes Discovered?

In 1913, an English Radiochemist named Frederick Soddy announced that, through his work on radioactive decay chains, and far-too-many elements that seem to exist between Uranium and Lead on the periodic table, he had found evidence of isotopes-versions of elements that have the same chemical properties but different masses. In this video, I researched his story, which often goes untold in chemistry textbooks, and tried to summarize it. I hope you enjoy it, as well as the tidbit about where the term "isotope" came from!

[@katrinadoyle7]

I had a super sheltered Christian education of science and I’m learning so much as an adult from your videos! Thank you.

[@Study43276]

wow
perfect explanation

[@henryj.8528]

I visited the Cavendish last summer and they have the original gear used by Thompson, Rutherford, Chadwick, and others to discover the nucleus, the electron, and the neutron . Very crude equipment put together literally with sealing wax, but amazing results.

[@crowdedbeaker7980]

I have not been to Cambridge (yet!) but would love to see the Cavendish. I do find it amazing that such discoveries were made before today’s equipment had even been invented.

[@henryj.8528]

@@crowdedbeaker7980 Unfortunately, the lab is not in the original building which is in town--a neoclassical stone structure built in the 1700s I would guess. The Cavendish currently is a '60s "modern" building outside Cambridge. And there's also the "new" Cavendish being built down the street. But you can go to a pub and sit at the table where Watson and Crick figured out DNA (unknowingly helped by Rosalind Franklin).