Thorium A 11 hours 1·75 × no rays Soluble in
10⁻⁵ strong acids.
Volatile at
a white heat.
B can be
separated
from A by
electrolysis
and by
difference
of volatility.
Thorium B 55 mins. 2·1 × α, β, γ rays Same
10⁻⁴
? — — — -
=211. Transformation products of Actinium.= It has previously been
pointed out (sections 17 and 18) that the actinium of Debierne and the
emanium of Giesel contain the same radio-active constituent. Both give
out a short-lived emanation which imparts activity to the surface of
bodies. Recently, thanks to Dr Giesel of Braunschweig, preparations of
“emanium” have been placed on the market, and most of the investigations
that are described later have been made with this substance.
_Actinium X._ Actinium and thorium are very closely allied in
radio-active properties. Both emit an emanation which is rapidly
transformed, but the rate of change of the actinium emanation is still
more rapid than that of thorium, the activity decreasing to half value
in 3·7 seconds. Miss Brooks[308] has analysed the active deposit from
the emanation of actinium, and has shown that two successive changes
occur in it, very similar in character to those observed in the active
deposit of thorium. It thus seemed probable, from analogy, that an
intermediate product, corresponding to Th X in thorium, would be found
in actinium[309]. Recent work has verified this supposition. Giesel[310]
and Godlewski[311] independently observed that a very active substance
could be separated from “emanium,” very similar in chemical and physical
properties to Th X in thorium. This product will, from analogy, be
called “actinium X.” The same method, which was used by Rutherford and
Soddy to separate Th X from thorium, is also effective in separating
actinium X from actinium. After precipitation of the active solution
with ammonia, actinium X is left behind in the filtrate. After
evaporation and ignition, a very active residue remains. At the same
time, the precipitated actinium loses a large proportion of its
activity.
Giesel observed the separation of an active product, using a fluorescent
screen to detect the radiations. A very complete examination of the
product actinium X has been made by Godlewski in the laboratory of the
writer.
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