and
where λ is the radio-active constant of Ur X. The substance Ur X is produced from uranium at a constant rate, and the constant radio-activity observed in uranium represents a state of equilibrium, where the rate of production of new active matter is balanced by the rate of change of the Ur X already produced.
The radio-active processes occurring in uranium present several points of difference from the processes occurring in thorium and radium. In the first place, uranium does not give off an emanation, and in consequence does not produce any excited activity on bodies. So far only one active product Ur X has been observed in uranium. This active product Ur X differs from Th X and the emanations, inasmuch as the radiation from it consists almost entirely of β rays. This peculiarity of the radiations from Ur X initially led to some confusion in the interpretation of observations on Ur X and the uranium from which it had been separated. When examined by the photographic method, the uranium freed from Ur X showed no activity, while the Ur X possessed it to an intense degree. With the electric method, on the other hand, the results obtained were exactly the reverse. The uranium freed from Ur X showed very little loss of activity, while the activity of the Ur X was very small. The explanation of these results was given by Soddy[[296]] and by Rutherford and Grier[[297]]. The α rays of uranium are photographically almost inactive, but produce most of the ionization in the gas. The β rays, on the other hand, produce a strong photographic action, but very little ionization compared with the α rays. When the Ur X is separated from the uranium, the uranium does not at first give out any β rays. In the course of time fresh Ur X is produced from the uranium, and β rays begin to appear, gradually increasing in intensity until they reach the original value shown before the separation of the Ur X.
In order to determine the recovery curves of uranium after the separation of Ur X, it was thus necessary to measure the rate of increase of the β rays. This was done by covering the uranium with a layer of aluminium of sufficient thickness to absorb all the α rays, and then measuring the ionization due to the rays in an apparatus similar to [Fig. 17].
Uranium has not yet been obtained inactive when tested by the electric method. Becquerel[[298]] has stated that he was able to obtain inactive uranium, but in his experiments the uranium was covered with a layer of black paper, which would entirely absorb the α rays. There is no evidence that the α radiation of uranium has been altered either in character or amount by any chemical treatment. The α rays appear to be inseparable from the uranium, and it will be shown later that thorium and radium as well as uranium also possess a non-separable activity consisting entirely of α rays. The changes occurring in uranium must then be considered to be of two kinds, (1) the change which gives rise to the α rays and the product Ur X, (2) the change which gives rise to the β rays from Ur X.
The possibility of separating the Ur X, which gives rise to the β rays of uranium, shows that the α and β rays are produced quite independently of one another, and by matter of different chemical properties.
Following the general considerations discussed in section 136 we may suppose that every second some of the atoms of uranium—a very minute fraction of the total number present will suffice—become unstable and break up, expelling an α particle with great velocity. The uranium atom, minus one α particle, becomes the atom of the new substance, Ur X. This in turn is unstable and breaks up with the expulsion of the β particle and the appearance of a γ ray.
The changes occurring in uranium are graphically shown in [Fig. 77].
