Lawrence E. Glendenin
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Elgin Glendenin (November 8, 1918 November 22, 2008) was an American
chemist
who co-discovered the element
promethium
.
on November 8, 1918. He attended the University of Chicago
, graduating in 1941.
He worked as a chemist at the Clinton Laboratories (now Oak Ridge National Laboratory
) during the World War II
Manhattan Project
, engaged in separating, identifying and characterizing the radioactive elements produced by nuclear fission
. In 1945, he, together with Jacob A. Marinsky
and Charles D. Coryell
, isolated the previously undocumented rare earth element
61. Marinsky and Glendenin produced promethium both by extraction from fission products 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. In September 1947, Marinsky and Glendenin announced the discovery at a meeting of the American Chemical Society
. Upon the suggestion of Coryell's wife, the team named the new element for the titan 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.
In 1945, Glendenin and 154 other Manhattan Project scientists signed the Szilárd petition
. The petition urged President Harry S. Truman
not to use the first atomic bomb "without restriction," urging him instead to "describe and demonstrate" its power and give Japan
"the opportunity to consider the consequences of further refusal to surrender."
In 1949, Glendenin earned his Ph.D from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. That same year he joined Argonne National Laboratory
, where he remained until his retirement in 1985.
He published extensively on the properties of fission product
s. He served as Scientific Secretary on the U.S. delegation to the Atoms for Peace Conference and received the American Chemical Society
's Glenn T. Seaborg Award for Nuclear Chemistry in 1974.
Glendenin was married for 63 years to Ethel Glendenin (née Long), who survived him at his death in November 2008. The couple were the parents of two daughters and two sons.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chemist
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 co-discovered the element
Chemical element
A chemical element is a pure chemical substance consisting of one type of atom distinguished by its atomic number, which is the number of protons in its nucleus. Familiar examples of elements include carbon, oxygen, aluminum, iron, copper, gold, mercury, and lead.As of November 2011, 118 elements...
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 :...
.
Biography
Glendenin was born in Bay City, MichiganBay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
on November 8, 1918. He attended the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, graduating in 1941.
He worked as a chemist at the 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...
) during the 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...
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...
, engaged in separating, identifying and characterizing the radioactive elements produced by nuclear fission
Nuclear fission
In nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
. In 1945, he, together with Jacob A. Marinsky
Jacob A. Marinsky
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...
and Charles D. Coryell
Charles D. Coryell
Charles DuBois Coryell was an American chemist who was one of the discoverers of the element promethium....
, 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 products 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. In September 1947, 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...
. Upon the suggestion of Coryell's wife, the team named the new element for the titan 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.
In 1945, Glendenin and 154 other Manhattan Project scientists signed the Szilárd petition
Szilárd petition
The Szilárd petition, drafted by scientist Leó Szilárd, was signed by 155 scientists working on the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois. It was circulated in July 1945 and asked President Harry S. Truman to consider an observed...
. The petition urged President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
not to use the first atomic bomb "without restriction," urging him instead to "describe and demonstrate" its power and give 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...
"the opportunity to consider the consequences of further refusal to surrender."
In 1949, Glendenin earned his Ph.D 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...
. That same year he joined Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory is the first science and engineering research national laboratory in the United States, receiving this designation on July 1, 1946. It is the largest national laboratory by size and scope in the Midwest...
, where he remained until his retirement in 1985.
He published extensively on the properties of 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. He served as Scientific Secretary on the U.S. delegation to the Atoms for Peace Conference and received 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...
's Glenn T. Seaborg Award for Nuclear Chemistry in 1974.
Glendenin was married for 63 years to Ethel Glendenin (née Long), who survived him at his death in November 2008. The couple were the parents of two daughters and two sons.