Jacob A. Marinsky
Encyclopedia
Jacob Akiba Marinsky was a chemist
who was the co-discoverer of the element promethium
.
Marinsky was born in Buffalo, New York
, and attended the University at Buffalo
, entering at age 16 and receiving a bachelor's degree
in chemistry in 1939.
During World War II
he was employed as a chemist for the Manhattan Project
, working at Clinton Laboratories (now Oak Ridge National Laboratory
) from 1944 to 1946. In 1945, together with Lawrence E. Glendenin
and Charles D. Coryell
, he isolated the previously undocumented rare earth element
61. Marinsky and Glendenin produced promethium both by extraction from fission product
s and by bombarding neodymium
with neutron
s. They isolated it using ion-exchange chromatography. Publication of the finding was delayed until later due to the war. Marinsky and Glendenin announced the discovery at a meeting of the American Chemical Society
in September 1947. Upon the suggestion of Coryell's wife, the team named the new element for the mythical Prometheus
, who stole fire from the gods and was punished for the act by Zeus
. They had also considered naming it "clintonium" for the facility where it was isolated.
Marinsky was among the Manhattan Project scientists who in 1945 signed a petition
against dropping an atomic bomb on Japan
.
He resumed his education after the war, obtaining a Ph.D.
in Nuclear and Inorganic Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1949. He worked in industrial research before joining the faculty of the University at Buffalo in 1957. His research was concerned with nuclear inorganic chemistry
, physicochemical studies of ion exchange
, and polyelectrolyte and electrolyte systems. In the late 1960s when the university required faculty to sign an oath of loyalty
to the United States, Marinsky refused, calling it a violation of civil liberties
, a position that caused some other faculty members to lose their jobs. He retired in 1988, becoming a professor emeritus.
In the early 1960s Marinsky was a Fulbright Research Scholar
at the Weizmann Institute of Science
in Israel
. In 1990, he received the Clifford Furnas Memorial Award of the University at Buffalo, awarded to graduates whose scientific accomplishments brought prestige to the university.
Marinsky died September 1, 2005, from multiple myeloma
. He was buried in Pine Hill Cemetery in Buffalo. He was married to the former Ruth Slick, who survived him, for 63 years. They were the parents of four daughters.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
who was the co-discoverer of the element promethium
Promethium
Promethium is a chemical element with the symbol Pm and atomic number 61. It is notable for being the only exclusively radioactive element besides technetium that is followed by chemical elements with stable isotopes.- Prediction :...
.
Marinsky was born in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, and attended the University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
, entering at age 16 and receiving a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in chemistry in 1939.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was employed as a chemist for the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
, working at Clinton Laboratories (now Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a multiprogram science and technology national laboratory managed for the United States Department of Energy by UT-Battelle. ORNL is the DOE's largest science and energy laboratory. ORNL is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, near Knoxville...
) from 1944 to 1946. In 1945, together with Lawrence E. Glendenin
Lawrence E. Glendenin
Lawrence Elgin Glendenin was an American chemist who co-discovered the element promethium.- Biography :Glendenin was born in Bay City, Michigan on November 8, 1918...
and Charles D. Coryell
Charles D. Coryell
Charles DuBois Coryell was an American chemist who was one of the discoverers of the element promethium....
, he isolated the previously undocumented rare earth element
Rare earth element
As defined by IUPAC, rare earth elements or rare earth metals are a set of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, specifically the fifteen lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium...
61. Marinsky and Glendenin produced promethium both by extraction from fission product
Fission product
Nuclear fission products are the atomic fragments left after a large atomic nucleus fissions. Typically, a large nucleus like that of uranium fissions by splitting into two smaller nuclei, along with a few neutrons and a large release of energy in the form of heat , gamma rays and neutrinos. The...
s and by bombarding neodymium
Neodymium
Neodymium is a chemical element with the symbol Nd and atomic number 60. It is a soft silvery metal that tarnishes in air. Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by the Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach. It is present in significant quantities in the ore minerals monazite and bastnäsite...
with neutron
Neutron
The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle which has the symbol or , no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. With the exception of hydrogen, nuclei of atoms consist of protons and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons. The number of...
s. They isolated it using ion-exchange chromatography. Publication of the finding was delayed until later due to the war. Marinsky and Glendenin announced the discovery at a meeting of the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
in September 1947. Upon the suggestion of Coryell's wife, the team named the new element for the mythical Prometheus
Prometheus
In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan, the son of Iapetus and Themis, and brother to Atlas, Epimetheus and Menoetius. He was a champion of mankind, known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals...
, who stole fire from the gods and was punished for the act by Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
. They had also considered naming it "clintonium" for the facility where it was isolated.
Marinsky was among the Manhattan Project scientists who in 1945 signed a petition
Petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
against dropping an atomic bomb on Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
He resumed his education after the war, obtaining a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Nuclear and Inorganic Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1949. He worked in industrial research before joining the faculty of the University at Buffalo in 1957. His research was concerned with nuclear inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds. This field covers all chemical compounds except the myriad organic compounds , which are the subjects of organic chemistry...
, physicochemical studies of ion exchange
Ion exchange
Ion exchange is an exchange of ions between two electrolytes or between an electrolyte solution and a complex. In most cases the term is used to denote the processes of purification, separation, and decontamination of aqueous and other ion-containing solutions with solid polymeric or mineralic 'ion...
, and polyelectrolyte and electrolyte systems. In the late 1960s when the university required faculty to sign an oath of loyalty
Loyalty oath
A loyalty oath is an oath of loyalty to an organization, institution, or state of which an individual is a member.In this context, a loyalty oath is distinct from pledge or oath of allegiance...
to the United States, Marinsky refused, calling it a violation of civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
, a position that caused some other faculty members to lose their jobs. He retired in 1988, becoming a professor emeritus.
In the early 1960s Marinsky was a Fulbright Research Scholar
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
at the Weizmann Institute of Science
Weizmann Institute of Science
The Weizmann Institute of Science , known as Machon Weizmann, is a university and research institute in Rehovot, Israel. It differs from other Israeli universities in that it offers only graduate and post-graduate studies in the sciences....
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. In 1990, he received the Clifford Furnas Memorial Award of the University at Buffalo, awarded to graduates whose scientific accomplishments brought prestige to the university.
Marinsky died September 1, 2005, from multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
. He was buried in Pine Hill Cemetery in Buffalo. He was married to the former Ruth Slick, who survived him, for 63 years. They were the parents of four daughters.