How to dissolve a Nobel Prize Medal

Mimsy · Mar 7, 2012

I thought you guys might find this as fascinating as I did. A true story that once again proves that when reality actually tries, it can easily trump fiction.

Money quote:

Inconveniently, [these medals were] now sitting in Bohr's building, clearly inscribed "Von Laue"...and "Franck" — like two death warrants. Bohr's institute had attracted and protected Jewish scientists for years. The Nazis knew that, and Niels Bohr knew (now that Denmark was suddenly part of the Reich) that he was a target. He had no idea what to do.

On the day the Nazis came to Copenhagen, a Hungarian chemist named Georgy de Hevesy (he would one day win a Nobel of his own) was working in Bohr's lab. He wrote later, "I suggested that we should bury the medal(s)," but Bohr thought no, the Germans would dig up the grounds, the garden, search everywhere in the building. Too dangerous.

So Hevesy's thoughts turned to chemistry. Maybe he could make the medals disappear. He took the first one, he says, and "I decided to dissolve it. While the invading forces marched in the streets of Copenhagen, I was busy dissolving Laue's and also James Franck's medals."
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For the true chemistry geeks, a video explaining how and why Aqua Regia manages to dissolve gold, with a narrator who looks like he is about to audition for the role of crazy scientist in the next Back to the Future:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwnKU89CCdI

Spad · Mar 7, 2012

I didn't know that. Interesting bit of history.

Phantom · Mar 7, 2012

Yep, I was gold chemist for over 20 years. The process is (basically):-
1)Grind sample(s) to fine powder; (2) Extract gold with Potassium Cyanide; (3) Weigh and dissolve a measured amount of powder into Aqua Regia solution, ("Royal Water"); (4) Dilute with Sorenson's solution; (5) Extract with D.I.B.K., (Dioxyisobutyle Ketone); Dilute further and analyze with an A.A.S., (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). If an ore sample, may need silica dissolved with Hydrofluoric Acid, (which is what probably gave me Oestiosarcoma - so don't try this at home, kids!) ~ For those that need to know.

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How to dissolve a Nobel Prize Medal

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How to dissolve a Nobel Prize Medal

Mimsy Superior Imperial Queen of the MG Games Forum

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Phantom Brigadier Britches

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