=167. Determination of the temperature of condensation.= A detailed
investigation was made by Rutherford and Soddy (_loc. cit._) of the
temperatures at which condensation and volatilization commenced for the
two emanations. The experimental arrangement of the first method is
shown clearly in Fig. 59. A slow constant stream of gas, entering at
_A_, was passed through a copper spiral _S_, over 3 metres in length,
immersed in a bath of liquid ethylene. The copper spiral was made to act
as its own thermometer by determining its electrical resistance. The
resistance temperature curve was obtained by observation of the
resistances at 0°, the boiling point of liquid ethylene −103·5°, the
solidification point of ethylene −169° and in liquid air. The
temperature of the liquid air was deduced from the tables given by Baly
for the boiling point of liquid air for different percentages of oxygen.
The resistance-temperature curve, for the particular spiral employed,
was found to be nearly a straight line between 0° and −192°C., cutting
the temperature axis if produced nearly at the absolute zero. The
resistance of the spiral, deduced from readings on an accurately
calibrated Weston millivoltmeter, with a constant current through the
spiral, was thus very approximately proportional to the absolute
temperature. The liquid ethylene was kept vigorously stirred by an
electric motor, and was cooled to any desired temperature by surrounding
the vessel with liquid air.
The general method employed for the radium emanation was to pass a
suitable amount of emanation, mixed with the gas to be used, from the
gas holder _B_ into the spiral, cooled below the temperature of
condensation. After the emanation was condensed in the spiral, a current
of electrolytic hydrogen or oxygen was passed through the spiral. The
temperature was allowed to rise gradually, and was noted at the instant
when a deflection of the electrometer, due to the presence of emanation
in the testing vessel _T_, was observed. The resistance, subject to a
slight correction due to the time taken for the emanation to be carried
into the testing vessel, gave the temperature at which some of the
emanation commenced to volatilize. The ionization current in the testing
vessel rose rapidly to a maximum value, showing that, for a small
increase of temperature, the whole of the radium emanation was
volatilized. The following table gives an illustration of the results
obtained for a current of hydrogen of 1·38 cubic centimetres per second.
Temperature Divisions per
second of the
electrometer
−160° 0
−156° 0
−154°·3 1
−153°·8 21
−152°·5 24
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