Abstract
SOME time ago one of us attacked the problem of the radioactivity of potassium by carrying out a partial separation of its isotopes and determining the atomic weight and the radioactivity of the heavy fraction obtained. The fact that the heavy fraction was found to be more active than the normal potassium proved that the activity is not due to the main isotope 39 but to a heavier one. By comparing on one hand the activities of these two samples and their atomic weights on the other, it is possible to determine the mass of the radioactive isotope.
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References
G. v. Hevesy, W. Seith and M. Pahl, Z. phys. Cfiem., Bodensteinfestbd., p. 309, 1931.
F. W. Aston, NATURE, 133, 869, June 9, 1934.
D. Bocciarelli, Atti. R. Accad. Lincei, (6), 17, 830; 1933.
G. Gamow, NATURE, 133, 744, May 19, 1934.
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HEVESY, G., PAHL, M. & HOSEMANN, R. Radioactivity of Potassium. Nature 134, 377 (1934). https://doi.org/10.1038/134377a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/134377a0
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