Special experiments, with a large quantity of emanation, that were made
with the spiral immersed in a bath of rapidly boiling nitric oxide,
showed this effect very clearly. For example, the condensed emanation
began to volatilize at −155° C. In 4 minutes the temperature had risen
to −153·5°, and the amount volatilized was four times as great as at
−155°. In the next 5½ minutes the temperature had increased to −152·3°
and practically the whole quantity, which was at least fifty times the
amount at the temperature of −153·5°, had volatilized.
It thus seems probable that, if the temperature were kept steady at the
point at which volatilization was first observed, and the released
emanation removed at intervals, the whole of the emanation would in
course of time be liberated at that temperature. Curie and Dewar and
Ramsay have observed that the emanation condensed in a =U= tube,
immersed in liquid air, slowly escapes if the pump is kept steadily
working. These results point to the probability that the condensed
emanation possesses a true vapour pressure, but great refinements in
experimental methods would be necessary before such a conclusion could
be definitely established.
The true temperature of condensation of the thorium emanation is
probably about −120° C., and that of radium about −150° C. Thus there is
no doubt that the two emanations are quite distinct from each other in
this respect, and also with regard to their radio-activity, although
they both possess the property of chemical inertness. These results on
the temperatures of condensation do not allow us to make any comparison
of the condensation points of the emanations with those of known gases,
since the lowering of the condensation points of gases with diminution
of pressure has not been studied at such extremely minute pressures.
=170.= It has been found[264] that the activity of the thorium
emanation, when condensed in the spiral at the temperature of liquid
air, decayed at the same rate as at ordinary temperatures. This is in
accord with results of a similar kind obtained by P. Curie for the
radium emanation (section 145), and shows that the value of the
radio-active constant is unaffected by wide variations of temperature.
Amount of Emanation from Radium and Thorium.
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