Discovery of Astatine by Horia Hulubei

The search for new chemical elements was a prominent scientific endeavor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This era saw the discovery of several elements such as radium, polonium, and radon by prominent scientists such as Marie Curie and Ernest Rutherford. Astatine was one of the missing elements from the periodic table, and its existence was predicted due to the periodicity of the elements, with iodine as its nearest stable neighbor. Scientists have sought to confirm its existence and properties. The discovery of astatine by Horia Hulubei and his collaborator Yvette Cauchois at the beginning of the 20th century is recognized by many scientists, although the authorship of this discovery was ignored by the Austrian radiochemist Friedrich Paneth, who was responsible for setting priorities in the discovery of new chemical elements. This article will delve into the historical background and scientific endeavors that led to the discovery of astatine by Horia Hulubei.