was four times as great as at -155°. In the next 5-1/2 minutes the temperature had increased to -152·3° and practically the whole quantity, which was at least fifty times the amount at the temperature of -153·5°, had volatilized.
It thus seems probable that, if the temperature were kept steady at the point at which volatilization was first observed, and the released emanation removed at intervals, the whole of the emanation would in course of time be liberated at that temperature. Curie and Dewar and Ramsay have observed that the emanation condensed in a U tube, immersed in liquid air, slowly escapes if the pump is kept steadily working. These results point to the probability that the condensed emanation possesses a true vapour pressure, but great refinements in experimental methods would be necessary before such a conclusion could be definitely established.
The true temperature of condensation of the thorium emanation is probably about -120° C., and that of radium about -150° C. Thus there is no doubt that the two emanations are quite distinct from each other in this respect, and also with regard to their radio-activity, although they both possess the property of chemical inertness. These results on the temperatures of condensation do not allow us to make any comparison of the condensation points of the emanations with those of known gases, since the lowering of the condensation points of gases with diminution of pressure has not been studied at such extremely minute pressures.
170. It has been found[1] that the activity of the thorium
emanation, when condensed in the spiral at the temperature of
liquid air, decayed at the same rate as at ordinary temperatures.
This is in accord with results of a similar kind obtained by
P. Curie for the radium emanation (section 145), and shows that
the value of the radio-active constant is unaffected by wide
variations of temperature.
- ↑ Rutherford and Soddy, Phil. Mag. May, 1903.
