The identity of the curves of recovery and fall of the heating effect of
radium and its emanation respectively with the corresponding curves for
the rise and fall of radio-activity shows that the heat emission of
radium and its products is directly connected with their radio-activity.
The variation in the heat emission of both radium and its emanation is
approximately proportional to their activity measured by the α rays. It
is not proportional to the activity measured by the β or γ rays, for the
intensity of these rays falls nearly to zero some hours after removal of
the emanation, while the α ray activity, like the heating effect, is 25
per cent. of the maximum value. These results are thus in accordance
with the view that the heat emission of radium accompanies the expulsion
of α particles, and is approximately proportional to the number
expelled. Before such a conclusion can be considered established, it is
necessary to show that the heating effect of the active deposit from the
emanation varies in the same way as its α ray activity. Experiments made
to test this point will now be considered.
=246. Heat emission of the active deposit from the emanation.= New
radium in radio-active equilibrium contains four successive products
which break up with the emission of α particles, viz. radium itself, the
emanation, radium A and C. Radium B does not emit rays at all. The
effect of the later products radium D, E and F may be neglected, if the
radium has not been prepared for more than a year.
It is not easy to settle definitely the relative activity supplied by
each of these products when in radio-active equilibrium, but it has been
shown in section 229 that the activity is not very different for the
four α ray products. The α particles from radium A and C are more
penetrating than those from radium itself and the emanation. The
evidence at present obtained points to the conclusion that the activity
supplied by the emanation is less than that supplied by the other
products. This indicates that the α particles from the emanation are
projected with less velocity than in the other cases.
When the emanation is suddenly released from radium by heat or solution,
the products radium A, B and C are left behind. Since the parent matter
is removed, the amount of the products A, B, C at once commences to
diminish, and at the end of about three hours reaches a very small
value. If the heating effect depends upon the α ray activity, it is thus
to be expected that the heat emission of the radium should rapidly
diminish to a minimum after the removal of the emanation.
When the emanation is introduced into a vessel, the products radium A, B
and C at once appear and increase in quantity, reaching a practical
maximum about 3 hours later. The heating effect of the emanation tube
should thus increase for several hours after the introduction of the
emanation.
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