Page:Radio-activity.djvu/32

 examination of the action of the uranium compounds with the same apparatus and under the same conditions led to the following results:

i Uranium (containing a little carbon)  2·3 × 10^{-11} amperes Black oxide of uranium                2·6           " Green   "         "                    1·8           " Acid uranic hydrate                   0·6           " Uranate of sodium                      1·2           " Uranate of potassium                  1·2           " Uranate of ammonia                     1·3           " Uranous sulphate                      0·7           " Sulphate of uranium and potassium      0·7           " Acetate                               0·7           " Phosphate of copper and uranium        0·9           " Oxysulphide of uranium                1·2           "

The interesting point in connection with these results is that some specimens of pitchblende have four times the activity of the metal uranium; chalcolite, the crystallized phosphate of copper and uranium, is twice as active as uranium; and autunite, a phosphate of calcium and uranium, is as active as uranium. From the previous considerations, none of the substances should have shown as much activity as uranium or thorium. In order to be sure that the large activity was not due to the particular chemical combination, Mme Curie prepared chalcolite artificially, starting with pure products. This artificial chalcolite had the activity to be expected from its composition, viz. about 0·4 of the activity of the uranium. The natural mineral chalcolite is thus five times as active as the artificial mineral.

It thus seemed probable that the large activity of some of these minerals, compared with uranium and thorium, was due to the presence of small quantities of some very active substance, which was different from the known bodies thorium and uranium.

This supposition was completely verified by the work of M. and Mme Curie, who were able to separate from pitchblende by purely chemical methods two active bodies, one of which in the pure state is over a million times more active than the metal uranium.

This important discovery was due entirely to the property of radio-activity possessed by the new bodies. The only guide