The experiments were repeated with a new supply of emanation, and some of the stronger lines were observed again, while some new lines made their appearance. Ramsay and Collie suggest that the strong line 5595 may be identical with a line which was observed by Pickering[1] in the spectrum of lightning, and was not identified with the spectrum of any known gas.
Until large quantities of radium are available for the experimenter it would appear difficult to make sure how many of these lines must be ascribed to the spectrum of the emanation or to measure the wave-lengths with accuracy.
The results are of great interest, as showing that the emanation has a definite and new spectrum of the same general character as the argon group of gases to which, as we have seen, it is chemically allied.
Summary of Results.
174. The investigations into the nature of the radio-active
emanations have thus led to the following conclusions:—The
radio-elements thorium, radium and actinium continuously produce
from themselves radio-active emanations at a rate which is
constant under all conditions. In some cases, the emanations
continuously diffuse from the radio-active compounds into the
surrounding gas; in other cases, the emanations are unable to
escape from the material in which they are produced, but are
occluded, and can only be released by solution or by the action of
heat.
The emanations possess all the properties of radio-active gases. They diffuse through gases, liquids, and porous substances, and can be occluded in some solids. Under varying conditions of pressure, volume, and temperature, the emanations distribute themselves in the same way and according to the same laws as does a gas.
The emanations possess the important property of condensation under the influence of extreme cold, and by that means can be separated from the gases with which they are mixed. The radiation from the emanation is material in nature, and consists of a stream of positively charged particles projected with great velocity.
- ↑ Pickering, Astrophys. Journ. Vol. 14, p. 368, 1901.
