Henri Becquerel and Radioactivity: A Critical Revision

Abstract

In his early papers, Becquerel interpreted the emission of penetrating radiation by uranium and its compounds as a type of invisible phosphorescence, with emission of some kind of electromagnetic radiation. He devised experiments that seemed to confirm his interpretation and that were later disconfirmed by other researchers. This paper analyses the early history of radioactivity, paying special attention to Becquerel’s mistakes and to the attitude of other scientists to his work.