Each atom of radium may be considered as a constant and continuous
source of emanation. At the same moment that this form of energy is
produced, it undergoes a progressive transformation into radio-active
energy of the Becquerel radiation. The velocity of this transformation
is proportional to the quantity of the emanation accumulated.
When a radium solution is placed within an enclosure, the emanation is
able to expand into the enclosure and to spread out over the walls. Here
it is, therefore, that it is transformed into a radiation, the solution
giving off but few Becquerel rays; the radiation is, in some sort,
_externalised_. On the other hand, with solid radium, the emanation not
being able to escape readily, accumulates, and is transformed into the
Becquerel radiation on the spot; this radiation therefore acquires a
higher value.
If this theory of radio-activity were general, we should have to say
that all radio-active bodies give rise to an emanation. Now this
emission has been confirmed in the case of radium, thorium, and
actinium; with the latter in particular the emission is enormous, even
in the solid state. Uranium and polonium do not seem to emit any
emanation, though they generate Becquerel rays. These bodies produce no
induced radio-activity in an enclosed space, as do the radio-active
bodies mentioned before. This fact is not in absolute contradiction to
the preceding theory. If uranium and polonium were to emit emanations
which become destroyed with very great rapidity, it would be very
difficult to observe the carriage of such emanations by the air and the
effects of induced radio-activity produced by them upon neighbouring
bodies. Such a hypothesis is not improbable, since the times required
for certain quantities of the emanations of radium and thorium to
diminish to one-half are in the proportion of 5000 to 1. We shall see,
moreover, that, under certain conditions, uranium can excite induced
activity.
_Another Form of Induced Radio-activity._
According to the law of dissipation in the open air of the activity
induced by radium in solid bodies, the activity after one day is almost
imperceptible.
Certain bodies, however, form exceptions; such are celluloid, paraffin,
caoutchouc, &c. When these bodies have been acted upon to a sufficient
degree, they lose their activity more slowly than the law can account
for, and it is often fifteen or twenty days before the activity becomes
imperceptible. These bodies appear to have the property of becoming
charged with radio-active energy in the form of an emanation; they
afterwards lose it gradually, causing induced radio-activity in the
vicinity.
_Induced Radio-activity with Slow Dissipation._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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