Friedrich Paneth (1887-1958) was an Austrian-British chemist who made significant contributions to the field of radiochemistry and nuclear physics. Born in Vienna, Paneth completed his education at the University of Vienna, where he studied chemistry. He later worked at the University of Munich under the guidance of renowned chemist Otto Hönigschmid.
Paneth is recognized for his research on isotopes and radioactive decay processes. In collaboration with chemist Kurt Peters, Paneth worked extensively on the study of isotopic exchange reactions. These investigations led to the discovery of deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen, in 1932. The significance of this discovery lay in the understanding of the isotopic composition of elements and the role it plays in various chemical reactions.
Paneth's work in radiochemistry also involved the synthesis and characterization of radioactive elements. He contributed to the identification of isotopes of numerous elements, including phosphorus, iron, and lead. Additionally, Paneth developed techniques for radiochemical analysis, which became fundamental tools in the field of nuclear science.
Following the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany, Paneth, who was Jewish, fled to England in 1933. There, he continued his scientific research and became a British citizen in 1939. Throughout his career, Paneth published numerous scientific papers and was widely recognized for his contributions to the field of radiochemistry and nuclear physics. Friedrich Paneth's work has had a lasting impact on our understanding of isotopes, radioactive decay, and the elemental composition of matter.
