in agreement with the results (section 232) where we have seen that radium F is volatilized at about 1000° C. and radium E is left behind.
Salts of gold, silver and mercury added to the radio-lead were found to show only α ray activity on removal. This is in accordance with the view that radium F alone is removed with these substances. Bismuth salts on the other hand showed initially α and β ray activity, but the latter rapidly died away. The presence of β rays in freshly prepared polonium was early observed by Mme Curie. The α and β ray activity of the radio-lead is much reduced by the precipitation of bismuth added to the solution. The α and β ray activity of the radio-lead, however, recovers itself again. This result is exactly what is to be expected if radio-lead contains radium D, E and F. Radium E and F are removed with the bismuth, but the parent substance, radium D, is left behind, and, in consequence, a fresh supply of radium E and F is produced.
While further experiments are required to settle definitely whether the products separated from radio-lead are identical with radium E and F, there can be little doubt that such is the case. This conclusion is strengthened by some experiments which I have made on a specimen of radio-lead, which was kindly forwarded to me by Mr Boltwood of New Haven. This active lead gave out α and β rays, the latter being in unusually large proportion. The active lead was four months old when first tested. The β ray activity in the following six months has remained sensibly constant, but the α ray activity has steadily increased. These results are to be expected if the radio-lead contains radium D. Radium E will reach a practical maximum about 40 days after separation of the product radium D with the lead. The α ray activity due to radium F should increase to a maximum in about 2·6 years (see section 236).
Further experiments are required to settle whether the lead immediately after separation from pitchblende contains only radium D, or whether radium E also appears with it. It seems likely, however, that the bismuth, which is initially present in solution at the time of separation of the lead, will retain both radium E and F, and that the presence of these products in radio-lead is due to their production, after separation, by the parent substance, radium D.
