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Announcement of Thallium
- When
- March 30, 1861
- Where
- London, United Kingdom
Crookes announced the discovery of thallium on March 30, 1861, in London, using flame spectroscopy to identify a green spectral line in sulfuric acid residues.
Crookes identified thallium in residues from sulfuric acid production using flame spectroscopy, a method approved for mineral analysis following Bunsen and Kirchhoff's work. He published his findings on March 30, 1861, establishing priority over Lamy. The name 'thallium' derives from the Greek word for 'green shoot,' reflecting the spectral line observed.
Sources
- William Crookes Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-29
- Thallium Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-07
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