Obtaining for the first time in USSR heavy water samples of A. I. Brodskii’s laboratory in the country

Abstract

This article is devoted to the significant event for national science – obtaining of initial portions of heavy (deuterium) water. The receiving of heavy water by multiple-stage electrolysis was carried out by the group of Dnipropetrovsk scientists under the supervision of professor A I. Brodskii in summer 1934. The article dwells upon the prerequisites of discovery of heavy-hydrogen water, it shows the role of academician A. I. Brodskii in the organization and provision of scientific supervision of investigations. The authors adduce features of the experimental method used by the Dnipropetrovsk scientists (the multiple-stage electrolysis) and also peculiarities of methods of control over the process of water enrichment by the heavy Hydrogen isotope (interferometric, differential and picnometric). The article tells about history of creation of experimental and semi-industrial equipment for obtaining heavy water. It accentuates the importance of Brodskii group’s success for the further development of research in the area of isotope chemistry and nuclear physics and also his role in solving of nuclear problem.

Keywords

• academician A. I. Brodskii
• obtaining of heavy water
• Hydrogen
• Deuterium
• isotopes
• electrolysis