Question

Who discovered artificial radioactivity?
A.Marie Curie
B.Pierre Curie
C.Irene Curie
D.None of the above

Answer 1

Hint:Artificial radioactivity is a branch of science in which a natural isotope is induced to radioactivity by using radiation which is used for a different purpose. This is also known as induced radioactivity. The use of artificial radioactivity is extensive in the field of medical science.

Step-by-step explanation:
Step 1
In 1896, a French physicist Henri Becquerel opened a drawer and discovered spontaneous radiation which forced the scientist to change their ideas about atomic structure.
Step 2
Radioactivity is the spontaneous radiation from the atomic nucleus as the atoms break apart. The three constituents of the radioactive decay are alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma radiation. It was Pierre Curie and Marie Curie who could successfully isolate radioactive radium salts from pitchblende in their laboratory in Paris in the year 1902. They were the first to term the phenomenon as radioactivity and won the nobel prize in 1903.
Step 3
Irene Curie who was the daughter of Pierre Curie and Marie Curie also started her research on natural radioactivity and eventually shifted her work to induce radioactivity in normal stable isotopes by converting them to radioactive isotopes by bombarding alpha particles to them. As we know that it is the neutron activity that is responsible for radioactivity, so any change in the number of neutrons may be able to change the heavier isotope to a radioactive one which is unstable.
Step 4:
The use of artificial radioactivity is immense in the field of medical science. In the present time cancer, patients take radiation where radioactive iodine and cobalt are used which has proven effective in killing cancer cells.

Hence, Irene Curie has discovered artificial radioactivity. So, the correct option is c).

Note: Natural radioactivity is the spontaneous decay of the radioactive elements into lighter elements where the alpha, beta, and gamma emission take place whereas artificial radioactivity is the induced form of radioactivity which is performed in the laboratory.