SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY. vii 



It is not surprising that an enthusiast confronted with the de- 

 composition of so many substances, which in so many respects ap-- 

 peared to be classed among the elements, should push the idea too 

 far and fall into an almost alchemical state of mind. Ramsay's 

 later experiments, in conjunction with Cameron and Usher, in which 

 they thought that radium emanation could decompose copper into 

 lithium and thorium into carbon, have not been verified by other 

 experimenters. Perhaps it is premature to judge the outcome ; but 

 if the conclusion was an error, it must be remembered that the 

 person who has never made a mistake is one who has never at- 

 tempted any serious work. 



iSlore fortunate, as it appears at present, was Ramsay's later 

 research with Gray on the density of the radium emanation, called 

 by him "niton." This important investigation, carried out with 

 extraordinarily small quantities of material, proved the transitory 

 " niton " to be the heaviest member of the argon series, and showed 

 that it fits satisfactorily into its appointed place in the periodic 

 system, as well as into the expected niche in the Soddy-Fajans 

 disintegration series. 



The work indicating the true nature" of niton appropriately 

 crowned Ramsay's work upon the series of inert gases, the discovery 

 of which was so largely due to his insight, enthusiasm and 

 perseverance. 



In addition to all his brilliant researches Ramsay found time to 

 publish a number of books, the chief of which were : " A System of 

 Chemistry'' (1891); "The Gases of the Atmosphere" (1896); 

 "Modern Chemistry" (1901) ; "Essays, Biographical and Chem- 

 ical" (1908) ; and (as editor) a series of very valuable textbooks 

 upon the different subdivisions of physical chemistry. In 191 1 he 

 was president of the British Association for the Advancement ol 

 Science, and his address, which began with a review of the amazing 

 discoveries of recent years, ended with an impressive warning as to 

 the impending failure of the world's coal supply, especially that of 

 Britain, with its direful consequences ; but this warning has fallen 

 largely upon deaf ears, and the world continues to squander the 

 stored energy of the ages with reckless prodigality. 



As would be expected, honors were showered upon this rare 



