Open AccessThe isotopic constitution and atomic weights of the rare earth elements
Publication year - 1934
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.1934.0137
Subject(s) - lanthanum , praseodymium , constitution , cerium , rare earth , neodymium , periodic table , erbium , chemistry , mineralogy , physics , inorganic chemistry , political science , law , optics , doping , quantum mechanics , laser , organic chemistry
Hitherto the widest gap in our knowledge of the isotopic constitution of the elements has been in that part of the periodic Table containing rare earths. A means of obtaining the mass rays of these substances was discovered 10 years ago. By this it was possible to demonstrate the simplicity of lanthanum and praseodymium and to obtain a provisional analysis of the complex elements cerium and neodymium. Beyond these the only positive result was a faint blurr which suggested that erbium was complex and it was decided to postpone further attempts until an instrument of higher resolving power was available. When this was constructed it was naturally first applied to the numerous problems which appeared to be of more fundamental importance so that the complete lack of information on elements 62 to 76 remained.