Francis W. Aston

Francis W. Aston was a pioneering chemist and physicist best known for developing the mass spectrometer, a device that measures the masses of atoms and molecules. His work allowed scientists to identify different isotopes—versions of elements with the same number of protons but different masses. This discovery was crucial for understanding atomic structure, chemical behavior, and processes like radioactive decay. Aston's innovations earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1922, and his contributions significantly advanced the fields of chemistry and physics by providing deeper insight into the atomic world.