The Bossier banner., 1904-03-10
RADIUM AND TRANSFORMATION.
sible Future Values of the No.
bier Metals Of the Earth.

Interesting Speculati0ns ON the POss
sible Future Values of the No.
bier Metals of the Earth.
Radium still occupies the premier po-
sition as regards research and atten-
tion by scientific men. And no won
der need be expressed that such Is the
case, says the London Lancet, consider
ing that as its properties are studied
fresh revelations of most remarkable
kind are made. These revelations will
be received with joy by those who
cherish the view that the elements, in
spite Of their diversities Of character,
are, after all, but transmutations Of one
stuff. The hypothesis is attractive and
several important and modern lines Of
research have been directed toward
raising 1t to the dignity of theory If not
to ascertained fact. In this connection
Sir William Crookes' Investigations on
radiant matter rank first. BY his bril-
liant researches he was at length able
to say: I'VE have actually touched the
borderland where matter and force
came the recognition of radiant matter
as electrons.
In the meantime that wonderful prop
erty of certain elements-radio-activity
was being very carefully investigated,
until at last perseverance and skill were
rewarded in the discovery of that mys-
terious element now known as radium.
The discovery Of the .X-rays was a
great stimulus to this path Of research.
Apparently remote, however, from the
study Of radiant phenomena was the dis
covery of argon in the atmosphere which
in its turn led to the discovery of
helium. AS matter Of fact, the most
remarkable property of radium would
probably have escaped observation had
not helium been discovered and its prop
critics made known. The energy mani
tested by radium is not due to radium
at all, but to the radioactive emanation
which 1t produces from itself, and these
emanatiOns would appear to be inert
gases, perhaps argon or members Of the
argon group.
The fact that helium was found in
minerals containing uranium suggested
that helium might be connected in some
way with radio-activity. Eventually
Sir William Ramsay and Frederic Soddy
showed that though the fresh emana-
tiOns from radium did not exhibit the
spectrum of helium, yet as the radio
activity dies down helium is produced
N small but in ever-increasing guam
titles. Helium would thus appear to
have been born, SO to speak, out of the
emanations. Are these emanations re-
lated closely to the primordial matter.
out OF which all the elements known to
chemistry by process Of ages have been
elaborated?
We are thus brought face to face with
the old theory of transmutation and
fresh light is thrown upon the genesis
Of the elements. Nature would seem to
abhor elements of high atomic weights
and her tendency is to resolve them
gradually into elements of lower atomic
weights. Just in the same way complex
molecules in the organic. world tend to
break up into simpler substances. The
great life processes elaborate complex
materials, but as soon asthese processes
cease there is revolution into simpler
products accompanied by loss OF en-
ergy.
Is 1t a kindred process in the inorganic
world and are the elements of high
atomic weight slowly disintegrating in
favor of elements of lower atomic
weight? If so, the dream of the alcnem-
list may after all be realized Gold Is
possibly being slowly resolved into cop
per or metals of lower atomic weight
than itself by process of natural decay
but transformation OF copper into gold
is by natural agencies improbable.
According to this view some explana-
tion may be found of the existence In
| nature of the metals known as noble in
limited quantities; unless method is
forthcoming, however, by which the re-
| verse process becomes possible gold
may forever remain a standard of cur
rency as it's dissolution would be sc
slow. The native amount may diminish
but not sensibly in very great period
| Of time. II by artificial means, however
what appears to be the natural tendency
can be overcome and reversed coppe,
or tin or lead may be resolved into gold
theoretically, such an accomplish
ment may come to be no more wonderful
than is the building up of sugar or alco
hol from its elements at the presen
time. Apart from speculating 1t is ,
wonderful thing that radium has showl
that there exist in nature minerals con
tanning elements of high atomic weigh
which have tendency to crumble SO t,
speak into elements of a lower atomi
value. in consequence Of which possibl
the distribution of elements of relative
~ low atomic value, such as hydrogen
sodium, silicon and oxygen, il common
This view leads us. naturally, to wonde
whether the noble elements exist at a
IN burnt-Out worlds.
Not Dangerous.
Boy" said the self-appointed ad
visor, don't be so careless with ths
gun"
"Oh, 1t won't hurt you" answered Ii
boy. indifierently.
"Yes; that's what they all say" col