The report by O. Hahn and F. Strassmann in January 1939 that Ba, Sr, La, and Y had been firmly identified, by chemical means, as products arising from the neutron irradiation of uranium led to a year of feverish activity.   In this presentation, the questions that arose in 1939 will be addressed.  These include:   What is happening  in the nucleus;  are there neutrons emitted in the process;  if so, how many neutrons are emitted; why is there a difference between neutron reactions with Th versus the result for U;  could a chain-reaction weapon be devised; what about elements heavier than uranium for which E. Fermi had been awarded a Nobel Prize.<br/>

Marking the 80<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the discovery of nuclear fission by chemists

2019 Fall National Meeting

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Marking the 80th anniversary of the discovery of nuclear fission by chemists

Marking the 80^th anniversary of the discovery of nuclear fission by chemists