New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-11
RAusAYs LATEST RESEARCHES.

At the dinner Of the chemists Thursday
evening Sir William Ramsay INDUCED In pro-
phetic remark which naturally arrests atten-
ton. He suggested the possibility that dis
covery was imminent which would throw light
on the origin OF the ordinary elements" These
may be- he intimated, 1.-The products OF the
"breaking down of radioactive elements Of
high atomic weight"-radium, uranium, tho
rum and one or two others. The hope TO
which he thus gave expression was doubtless
based on recent but unfinished investigat tons
briefly described by him in n letter 10 Nature
q few weeks ago.
There is a general disposition now 20 explain
the strange phenomena which characterize the
behavior OF radium-among them the evoiu-
ton Of n gas that slowly turns Into hellum-
by assuming that some OF the atoms OF the
first mentioned element disIntegratc, and in
so doing hberate stored energy. Sir William
asked himself if 1t were not practicable to re-
verse the process and build up an element by
proper combination Of material and energy
The latter would be required in a concentrated
form, but a supply could apparently be secured
by the breaking down of a radioactive sub
stance The task which is here outlined pos
sesses great difficulties. Every working chem
list knows how much easier II is to ascertain
of what elements n compound Is composed
than TO make them unite. Synthesis Is very
much harder 10 effect than analysis. Still, it
has been possible in the laboratory to Initiate
natures example IN the production or indigo.
camphor and several other articles of COM
merce. In like manner the preliminary work
already done by Sir William has encouraged
him TO think that perhaps one kind of atom
can be transformed into another by process
Of building I'D. Perhaps it VIII be necessary
10 experiment further before his hope rlpens
into conviction. Another point about which
there will be much curiosity is the economic
value Of the discovery. Can the principle be
utilized in the production Of any marketable
commodity, or is it of phiosophic Importance
only? In the address which Sir William is to
deliver in St Louis next week on Problems of
Inorganic Chemistry these questions may be
partially answered.
There are several reasons for thinking that
the confidence Of this investigator is well
grounded. His forecast in 1897 that an ele
ment then unknown but closely allied to
argon and helium would be found was Yeri-
fed within a year. In fact he not only dis
covered 'the missing link" neon, but also
two other previously unrecOgnized atmospheric
gases. krypton and xenOn. Again, his own spec
troscop,c examination of the gas into which the
emanation from radium was transformed hav
ing convinced him thai the product was helum,
he invited other chemists to examine specimens
and they confirmed his verdict. No discovery.
chemical astronomical or ARCHAEOLOGICAL, is ac
cepted without such corroboratiOn. When the
late Stephen Emmens of this city, asserted that
he had converted silver into gold scientific men
laughed Mt him scornfully because he would
not take the necessary steps to secure the judg
ment Of competent persons upon his work. Sir
William Ramsays procedure is very different
and always has been. The guarded language
which he now employs does not indicate that
he has yet reached final conclusion in regard
to his latest researches. If he ever becomes
fully satisfied, though that one kind of matter
can be made from another with the assistance
of energy liberated by decaying radium, there
is strong probability that his belief will prove
correct