Born: 1896 (Lackhausen, Germany)
Died: 1978
Biography:
Ida Noddack (25 February 1896 – 24 September 1978), née Tacke, was a German chemist and physicist. In 1934, she was the first to mention the idea later named nuclear fission. Alongside her husband Walter Noddack and Otto Berg, she also discovered element 75, rhenium. Nominated three times for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Noddack’s contributions to the field of science were groundbreaking and influential.
Born as Ida Tacke in Lackhausen, which is now a part of the city of Wesel, Germany, in 1896, she exhibited a passion for science and a desire to pursue a career in chemistry from an early age. Her father, who owned a small varnish factory in the Lower Rhine region, encouraged her decision to become chemist. In a time when research and industry employed fewer physicists and women were not primarily teachers, Noddack pursued a chemistry degree, which aligned with her passion and pleased her father.
Noddack chose to attend the Technical University of Berlin due to its rigorous academic programs and favorable reputation. She enrolled in 1915, during a time when women were still relatively new to studying in universities across Berlin. Out of the eighty-five students in her class, only nine were studying chemistry. Nevertheless, Noddack persevered and successfully completed her studies in 1918, earning a degree in chemical and metallurgical engineering. Her research focused on higher aliphatic fatty acid anhydrides.
As one of the first women to study chemistry in Germany, Noddack was part of a groundbreaking generation of female students. During World War I, the percentage of women studying chemistry increased significantly, reaching 35%. After graduating, Noddack found employment at the chemistry laboratory of the Berlin turbine factory of AEG, which had affiliations with General Electric in the United States. Her workplace, a notable building designed by renowned architect Peter Behrens, was shaped like a turbine, gaining worldwide recognition.
It was during her time at the Technical University of Berlin that Noddack met Walter Noddack, a researcher. They developed a strong partnership, both professionally and personally, working together as an Arbeitsgemeinschaft or work unit. In 1926, they married, and their collaboration continued throughout their careers.
Ida Noddack’s most significant contribution to science came in 1934 when she questioned the findings of Enrico Fermi. Fermi had bombarded uranium with neutrons in his Rome laboratory, resulting in the discovery of a new form of radioactivity with atomic chemistry that differed greatly from uranium. Fermi claimed that this was evidence of a new transuranic element and published his conclusions. However, Noddack published a paper challenging Fermi’s findings, pointing out flaws in his chemical proofs from the neutron bombardment experiments. While Fermi’s theory gained acceptance initially, Noddack’s paper, titled On Element 93, presented alternative possibilities and exposed the shortcomings in Fermi’s methodology.
Noddack’s work not only paved the way for future research but also highlighted the importance of critically analyzing scientific discoveries. Her insights into nuclear fission would later prove to be instrumental in the development of nuclear energy and its applications. Despite this groundbreaking discovery, Noddack’s contributions remained overlooked and she was not awarded the Nobel Prize.