George de Hevesy (1.08.1885-6.07.1966) was a chemist, physicist and radiobiologist. He was born in Budapest. He graduated from the University of Freiburg (1908). In 1908-10 he worked at the Zurich Polytechnic, in 1912—14 at Manchester University, and in 1920 —26 at the Institute of Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen. In 1926 —35 he was a professor at the University of Freiburg, and from 1943 at the Institute of Organic Chemistry of Stockholm University.
His work was in the field of X-ray spectroscopy, radioactivity, radioactive indicators, radiochemistry and radiobiology. He proved the chemical identity of isotopes. In 1913, together with F. Paneth, he developed the method of labelled atoms, which he widely used to study the mechanism of chemical processes, especially in living organisms. From 1934 he used radiolead and radiophosphorus as labels, the latter in particular to study the mechanism of a number of reactions important in the processes of life. In 1920 he observed the phenomenon of isotopic exchange. In 1943, for his work on the use of isotopes as indicators in the study of chemical processes, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Together with D. Coster in 1923 he discovered hafnium. He studied the relative abundance of the chemical elements on the Earth and in space. He developed the method of neutron activation analysis. His work also concerned the separation of isotopes.
He was a member of a number of academies of sciences and learned societies, including the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. S. Cannizzaro Prize (1929), the Copley (1949), M. Faraday (1951) and N. Bohr (1964) Medals, the Atoms for Peace Award (1959).