Question

Which statements best describe the work of Marie and Pierre Curie? Check all that apply.

They discovered radioactivity.
They came up with the term “radioactivity.”
They conducted experiments with uranium-containing minerals and pure uranium.
They conducted experiments with uranium-containing minerals and photographic plates.
They discovered two new radioactive elements.

Answer 1

Correct answers: they came up with the term “radioactivity”; they conducted experiments with uranium-containing minerals and pure uranium; they conducted experiments with uranium-containing minerals and photographic plates; they discovered two new radioactive elements.

Brief notes:
- They did NOT discover radioactivity — Henri Becquerel first observed it (1896).
- Marie (Curie) coined the term “radioactivity.”
- The Curies compared the emissions from uranium and uranium-containing minerals (like pitchblende) and used photographic plates among other methods to detect radiation.
- From those studies they discovered two new radioactive elements, polonium and radium.