Friday 16 November 2012

BIOGRAPHY OF MADAM MARY CURIE

MADAM MARY CURIE

Introduction

 


Mary Curie with her dedication, patience enthusiasm and
non-stop efforts crossed the dividing line of sorrows and difficulties,
and under adverse circumstances completed her research
on radioactive substances.
She was born in Warsaw, capital of Poland on 7th November,
1867. She was named Manya Sklodowaska. The name of
her elder sister was Bronya. Her father was a teacher of Mathematics
and Physics in a higher secondary school. He was a great
self-respecting patriot. He took active part in the free-dom fight
of Poland, and on account of this he was dismissed from
service. For want of any other means of livelihood, he had to
face great difficulties. It is said that calamities never come
alone. Manya lost her mother, when she was of eleven years of
age, clouds of sorrow enveloped the whole family.




Service for Livelihood






After mother’s death, the sisters did not lose courage. Both
of them continued their studies. Manya surprised everyone by
securing first position at the secondary examination. She was of
16 years only then on this success, she was awarded a gold
medal.
As a matter of fact, both the sisters were of sharp intellect
from the very beginning. Those days, people of Poland went for
higher education, either to England or to France. Both the
sisters wanted to study medical science in Paris. But in view of
the adverse conditions of life and family, their father was very
much worried. There is way, where is will Manya pacified her
father, and made up her mind to do some job and be selfsupporting.
She took upon herself the responsibility of her elder
sister Bronga’s education as well.

She began earning money by looking after children of rich
families. She spent the major part of her earnings on Bronya’s
education in Paris. Bronya was studying medical science in
Paris.
Manya had to face many difficulties in course of her
service. That man’s son, in whose house she worked, became
attracted towards Manya. He wanted to Marry her, but Marry
was inclined to get higher education. There was every chance of
her education being adversely effected after marriage. Manya,
therefore, did not accept his proposal. She had to leave service
in that house. She began working in another family.
As a consequence of Manya’s hard work for many years, her
elder sister completed her study of medical science. She married
and began to live in Paris. She purchased a flat there as well.




Higher Education in Paris






In 1891, at the age of 24 years Manya shifted to Paris. She
got herself registered in Sobon University. Her elder sister
Bronya wanted Manya to live with her. But Manya wanted to
live freely and she did not like to live with her elder sister. She
took on rent a small room, in which there was no proper
arrangement for air and sun. During winters Paris was covered
with snow every now and then, during which people kept their
houses warm by burning coal. But for want of enough money,
Manya burnt only little coal and spent difficult nights. In absence
of hot water, she had to use cold water in domestic work.
To meet her expenses on education and daily needs, she had
to work at more than one place. She used to get unconscious at
times on account of pain of hunger. There was no slackening of
Manya’s enthusiasm, so many difficulties notwithstanding. She
continued her progress towards her goal.
During those days, she had opportunities of hearing lectures
of famous Physicists Edmund Bounty Sri Gravial Lipman in the
university. As a result thereof, she got interested in Physics. In
1893 she secured first class first at the examination of Physics.
At the examination of Mathematics, she got second position.
Being pleased with her success and hard work, Physicist of
Sorbo University Paris, Sri Lippman appointed her as his
assistant in research work. The people of France had difficulty
in pronouncing her name. They, therefore, called her Mary. Thus
Manya. Sklodowaska came to be known by the name Mary.
 

Married Life






During that period, Mary used to go to the house of her
fiend, of Poland, living in Paris. By-chance she had acquaintance
there with a young man, named Pairey Curie. He was
interested in research in science. He too was a scholar of
Mathematics and Physics. Those days, Piary was busy in more
than one scientific inventions. By nature he was peaceful,
simple and serious. His nature was much like that of Mary.
Both got married on 25th July, 1895. After marriage, she was
known as Mary Curie.




Partnership in Research Work






Mary was very happy by getting Piarey’s life partner Piarey
was a teacher. His salary was meagre. Both of them, therefore,
found it difficult to lead life.
Both of them established a small laboratory at their residence,
the expenses of which they had to bear with a part of
their small income.
Those days, in 1896, Baikural was fully involved in one of
his research works. He was of the view that some rays were
emitted by a heavy substance Uranium. Mary Curie chose this
subject of research for the degree of Ph.D. She got busy in her
research. She found out that—
(i) From Uranium some rays emitted.
(ii) Besides Uranium, Thorium also had the quality of
Radioactivity.




Invention of Radium






Curie gave birth to a female child in 1897. She was named
Irene Besides working in the laboratory, Curie had to look after
her child as also she had to spend some money on her as well.
This made her economic budget more difficult. But the Curie
couple continued their research work with indomitable enthusiasm
and courage. Uranium is a very valuable substance. Curie
couple did not have enough money to purchase it. In course of
their research, found a Radioactive substance, Pitchblendy,
which is a mineral of black-grey colour. This is more Radioactive
than pure Uranium. Both of them were very much
satisfied with this research. In their research work, there were
lot of financial difficulties. After separation of substance
pitchblendy, the substance is considered useless, and its value

becomes very low. But the Curie couple did not have enough
money even to purchase separated Pitchblendy. Any how, they
managed money on loan, and got Pitchblendy from Austria. The
extent of hard work and dedication can be assessed by this
simple fact that they were able to obtain only 2 milligrams of
radium from 2 tonnes of Uranium by the chemical process of
elimination of diseveral substances. In course of research, the
obtained another radioactive substance, which was named after
the birth place of Madam Curie in Poland, as ‘Polonium’.




Steps of Success






In course of study of qualities of radium, they pointed out
that from this substance, very fine rays are emitted, which are
positively charged, negatively charged, and uncharged. These
particles are called


β-particles, α-particles and X-rays. Their

power of penetration and masses are different from one another.
There is possibility of treatment of many diseases with these
particles. In honour of study of qualities of radium, Mary was
awarded the degree of Doctor of Science in 1903, and was also
awarded the Devi Medal of Royal Society. For work on
Radioactivity, Nobel Prize of 1903 was awarded jointly to Mary
Curie, Peare Curie and Baikural.




Death of Husband






19th April, 1906 was the day of great calamity for Mary
Curie, when her husband Peare Curie died in a road accident.
Mary was almost on the death of Piary Curie, who was not only
her husband but a co-worker in scientific pursuits. Blasing this
bearing blow bravery, she continued her research work. She had
to pass through very difficult days, as besides research work,
she had to give time to her two daughters Irin and Eve. At this
time Madam Curie was appointed Professor of Physics in the
place of her husband.




Nobel Prize for Chemistry






Madam Curie was honoured with Nobel Prize of Chemistry
in 1911, for research of radium and Polonium, their manufacture
in pure state, determining of atomic weight and studying
the qualities thereof. Thus she was the first lady to receive the
Nobel Prize and the first person to get it twice. Before this, no
persons had received the Nobel Prize twice.

Public service of Madam Curie






After the research of radioactive substances, Madam Curie
told to people the uses of it. She delivered lectures in different
universities. She established a Radium Institute in her birth
place, Warsaw, Poland in 1932. She provided different equipments
to the Radium Institute established by the Government of
France. Her daughter, Irene Curie and her husband Frederic
Joliot achieved success in producing artificial radioactive substances
by bombardment of Alpha particles on elements. For this
Irene Julio Curie were awarded the 1935 Nobel Prize for
Chemistry.
Madam Curie could not avoid bad effects of Radioactive
substances on her body. Due to its bad effects, she had
Luchemia. She died of it on 4th July, 1934.
By dint of hard work and indomitable zeal, she reached the
highest peak of success. She lived a simple life and served the
humanity. The world of science will always remember Madam
Curie.




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