I challenge Gareth Eaton’s recent claim that Theodore Richards should be counted among the discoverers of isotopes. In evaluating Eaton’s claim, I draw on two influential theories of scientific discovery, one developed by Thomas Kuhn, and one developed by Augustine Brannigan. I argue that though Richards’ experimental work contributed to the discovery, his work does not warrant attributing the discovery to him. Richards’ reluctance to acknowledge isotopes is well document. Further, the fact that he made no claim to having made the discovery also undermines Eaton’s argument.
Original language
English
Journal
Foundations of Chemistry: Philosophical, Historical, Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies of Chemistry
ISSN
1386-4238
Publication status
Accepted/In press - 2022
Research areas
isotopes, scientific discovery, Theodore Richards, Frederick Soddy, oxygen