Which of the following was discovered by Henri Becquerel?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Radioactivity.

Explanation:

Henri Becquerel, a French physicist, discovered radioactivity in 1896 while experimenting with phosphorescent materials. He found that uranium salts emitted rays that could fog photographic plates, even without exposure to sunlight—an unexpected result that led to the discovery of natural radioactive emissions.

Information Booster:

• Becquerel made the discovery while studying the properties of fluorescent and phosphorescent materials.

• He shared the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics with Marie and Pierre Curie for their work on radioactivity.

• His discovery paved the way for identifying alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.

• The unit of radioactivity, becquerel (Bq), is named in his honor.

• His work laid the foundation for nuclear physics and radiotherapy in medicine.

Additional Information:

• Infrared radiation was discovered by William Herschel in 1800.

• Ultraviolet light was discovered by Johann Wilhelm Ritter in 1801.

• X-rays were discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen in 1895, just before Becquerel’s discovery.

Henri Becquerel’s discovery marked a turning point in atomic science, eventually leading to the development of nuclear energy and medical imaging.