The property of intrinsic luminosity is characteristic of radon in all states of aggregation, and is one proof of the energy changes which accompany its disintegration. The intensity of the phosphorescence is greatest in the strong – presumably because of the lesser volume occupied – however each the gas and the liquid glow strongly. The colour of the light emitted by the stable varies from steel-blue on the melting-level to orange-red at decrease temperatures. Heat can also be given out during the disintegration of the emanation.
The continual emission of energy is also shown by the sluggish decomposition of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, and water exposed to the motion of radon. It has additionally been acknowledged that when options of compounds of the elements of the carbon group (silicon, titanium, zirconium, thorium, and lead) are subjected to the motion of radon, carbon dioxide is always produced. This suggests a risk that there could also be a breaking-down of the molecules of these components with formation of carbon, the bottom member of the series. Radon will cause the oxidation of wet mercury, and turns extraordinary white glass violet.
It was at one time supposed that a change of copper into lithium and of water into neon had been observed, however the validity of those observations is severely open to question.
For one or two days after its isolation radon undergoes a slow contraction to about one-half its authentic volume; afterwards it slowly expands to about 3 to 3.5 times the original volume. This change corresponds to a change within the spectrum, that of radon disappearing utterly after 3-4 days, and giving place to that of helium.
The cause of the contraction is obscure, nevertheless it has been observed in each sample hitherto prepared, and is, perhaps, on account of impurities. The gradual enlargement which takes place afterwards may be satisfactorily defined on the speculation that the α-particles given out in the course of the radioactive change of the radon have such a high velocity that they are forced into the partitions of the containing vessel and are only developed again quite slowly. It has been discovered that if radon is confined in a glass tube the partitions of which have a thickness less than the range of its a-particles in glass, an accumulation of helium could be observed within the outer space. This supports the previous explanation of the gradual enhance in volume, and further proves conclusively the identity of the helium atom with the α-particle. The interval of half-change of radon is 3.seventy five days.
It may be mentioned right here that the evolution of helium from radium was first proved by Ramsay and Soddy, and confirmed by Himstedt and Meyer: the statement that the radioactive parts are elements undergoing decomposition was first made by Geoffrey Martin. Assuming that 5 α-particles are expelled through the full disintegration of 1 atom of radium, the quantity of helium produced per day from 1 gram of radium needs to be 0.439 cu. mm. at N.T.P.: experimental determinations of the quantity have given figures in good agreement with this result. Since then its production throughout many different radioactive changes has been observed.
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