Final answer:
Marie and Pierre Curie's discovery of radioactivity led to the isolation of radium and polonium. While they didn't actively promote its use, radium's potential applications in medicine and power generation sparked interest. They supported the use of radioactive elements for medical diagnostic purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discovery made by Marie and Pierre Curie was about radioactivity, and they made significant contributions to the field. They isolated two new radioactive elements, polonium and radium, after processing a ton of uranium ore. Marie Curie coined the term 'radioactivity,' and their work was recognized with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903.
The Curies' main focus was not on influencing the use of their discovery, but rather on understanding and advancing our knowledge of radioactivity. However, their discovery of radium, which was much more radioactive than uranium, sparked interest in its potential applications in medicine and power generation. While this led to the development of radium-based medical treatments, the Curies did not actively push for its use.
Therefore, the option that best explains how Marie and Pierre Curie tried to influence the use of their discovery is A) They supported the use of radioactive elements for medical diagnostic purposes.