Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-12-31
CARNATIONS FROM AcTINIuM.
The Result Of Recent Experiments by
George. r. kunx.

New York TriLune.--uuusual in
terest attaches to the address de-
livored before the Princeton chemical
society day or two ago by George
+. Kmz, vice-president of the Amerl.
can institute of mining engineers, on
the subject of his recent experiments
with the exceedingly rare and hlther.
to ali but unobtainable element,
actinium. This actinium ex-
perimented on" says Mr. Kun2. was
a preparation OF the oxide, with an
activity of 10000 uranium being
taken as unity, prepared by Or
Dobierne and sent to me through the
courtesy of Prof p. Curie. The
carnations from II seemed most pro.
fuse, and, although It had been OK.
posed for two weeks In a paper pack.
age, yet they We're AZ energetic at
the time Of its arrival and one week
after as they could have been at any
time, The substance is wonderfully
radioactive. In the few experiments
that have made upon II I found
that, like radlum, II causes the
diamond to phosphoresce. and exerts
the same action as radium upon
willemite and kunzite with the DOS,
sible exception that the carnations
from the small quantity OF the sub.
stance seemed to become luminous
before they touched the willemlte II.
self The surface affected measured
two square inches, many times the
surface Of the actlnium. The effect
produced on willemite was somewhat
different from that due to radlum.
The luminescence apparently pene-
trated the willemite, and at the same
time IT almost seemed as II lumln.
GUS emanation left the material.
1T was also found. on applying some
powdered and graduated willemite
to the inside OF a closed far ~
centimeters high, and placing this
over the actinium, which was in
paper, that the emanations made
luminous the entire interior of the
Jar. On the other hand. they do not
appear to possess the penetrating
power through glass that the radlum
compounds show for In the same OK.
pertinent they failed to affect the
willemite on the outside Of the lar.
although the glass was only TX
mllimeters In thickness. A platinum.
bariumcyanlde screen Immediately re.
sponded when the actinium was held
against the black paper on the back.
The abundance ~ annauattnn, e..
the substance. rather than their
penetratlve quality, seemed 10 be It's
Characteristic.
One OF the properties OF actinium
which Prof. Curle mentions in his
letters is the emission OF many
carnations which last for some
minutes. This feature OF endurance
was not observed. On the other hand.
a popularity Of actinIum, an com.
pared with radlum il that the
carnations. although more profuse.
disappear in few seconds. Another
marked feature Is certain visibility
or materially OF the emanations,
This has already been referred 10 In
some Of the experiments above de.
aerlbed In connection with wIliemite.
II aetinlum is placed In a paper over
screen Of the phosphorescent
sulphide Of zinc (sidot's blende), the
screen viii become Illuminated. and
IN slightly blowing. 40 as to produce
current Of air. the light is carried
1ioeg the screen with the cmanations.
! found that the diamond was affected
quite as permanently az with radlum:
50 vas the spodumene variety
Fnnzite and specimen Of willemlte
more han two inches square. Emana.
tsons ~ The actinium. which was IN
double paper. rose In eone.shaped
fern. and spread ont in an Inverted
cor. on the base Of the wIllemlte.