TeXes Science Practice Test

For what discovery was Marie Curie awarded a Nobel Prize in chemistry?

1. Uranium

2. Polonium and radium

3. Curium

4. Radon

The correct answer is: Polonium and radium

Marie Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911 for her discovery of the elements polonium and radium. This recognition was significant because it highlighted her groundbreaking work in radioactivity, a term she coined. Polonium and radium were isolated from uranium ore, and their properties and the phenomenon of radioactivity fundamentally changed the understanding of atomic structure and behavior. Curie's research laid the foundation for future studies in nuclear physics and chemistry, and her work contributed to advances in medical treatments, particularly in cancer therapy, due to the radioactive properties of these elements. This Nobel Prize was particularly noteworthy, as she was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize in this field, and she remains the only person awarded Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields (Physics and Chemistry).