Open AccessA new radio-active element, which evolves thorium emanation. Preliminary communication
Publication year - 1905
Publication title -
proceedings of the royal society of london. series a, containing papers of a mathematical and physical character
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2053-9150
pISSN - 0950-1207
DOI - 10.1098/rspa.1905.0009
Subject(s) - radium , hydrochloric acid , chemistry , residue (chemistry) , bromide , thorium , nuclear chemistry , aqueous solution , radiochemistry , mineralogy , inorganic chemistry , uranium , organic chemistry , materials science , metallurgy
[The material for this investigation was provided by Sir William Ramsay; it was the final residue remaining after fusion with bisulphate of 5 cwt. of the cubical ore from Ceylon, for which the name “thorianite” has been suggested by Professor Dunstan. This residue was fused with carbonates,, the silica was removed, and the carbonates dissolved in dilute hydrochloric acid. Lead was precipitated as sulphide, and the carbonates again precipitated. These preliminary operations were carried out by Mr. Charles Tyrer and by Dr. Denison.] This residue weighed about 18 grammes, and a preliminary estimation of radio-activity led to the belief that it would yield about 15 milligrammes of pure radium bromide. The carbonates were dissolved in pure aqueous hydrobromic acid, and the bromides fractionated according to Giesel’s method. But difficulties were soon encountered; the more soluble portion did not fall off in radio-activity, but gradually grew more strongly radio active; the radium concentrated at the least soluble end, and the middle fractions became relatively weak in radio-activity.