The total ionisation of various gases by the α-Rays of Uranium

Abstract

The first experiments on the total relative ionisation produced by the Becquerel rays from uranium oxide were made by Prof. Rutherford. With a brass ball of 1·1-cm. radius coated with uranium oxide placed inside a metal coated bell-jar of 6·5-cm. radius for containing the gases, the ball being connected to an electrometer and the bell-jar raised to a potential of 800 volts, he found the following values for the total ionisation :— Air ≡ 100, hydrogen 95, oxygen 106, carbonic acid 96, coal gas 111, hydrochloric acid gas 102, ammonia 101.