The chemistry of the radio-elements / by Frederick Soddy.

  • Frederick Soddy
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The chemistry of the radio-elements / by Frederick Soddy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    44/64 page 32
    however, the possibility of a dual change is admitted, giving the same kind of rays in both modes of disintegration, other alternatives can be framed. It seems extremely likely that some such change does occur. At present the most probable theory is connected with the existence of uranium Y, which Antonoff claimed to have discovered in 1911 (I, p. 40). The effect on which he based this conclusion was that the soft (jSVradiation of uranium X decays, in certain cases, abnormally rapidly for the first few days after separation from uranium. This effect has been called in question, but repeated and reaffirmed by Antonoff,^-^ and has recently been independently confirmed by the author so far as the main result is concerned. But if it is due to the existence of a separate product, uranium Y, this product appears now to be isotopic with uranium X^, and to be formed directly from uranium, either I or II, presumably in a branch a-ray change. Antonoff states that the proportion of ((S)-radiation contributed by uranium Y is of the right order to be expected if it is the first member of the actinium branch series, and this view also is indepen- dently supported. If uranium Y exists and is the parent of actinium, one a- and one /3-particle must be expelled in the passage from group IV. A (uranium Y) to group III. A (actinium). So far there is, however, no evidence of the a-ray change.
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