3io smithsonian miscellaneous collections vol. 52 



10. chemical effects. 

 Reducing Effect. 



In H2, HgClj reduced to Hg2Cl2 to some depth, no fluorescence: 

 Sm2(709). FeCU reduced to FeClj: Sm2(7io). 

 Various other metallic compounds reduced: Sm3(622). 

 In O2, these reducing effects do not take place: Sm2(7io). 

 Metallic oxides in solid solution are reduced, oxygen being evolved dur- 

 ing fluorescence: W6(59o) ; W7; Tfi(6i3); 84(654). 

 Oxidizing Effect. 



All oxidizable metals are superficially oxidized by the rays: Wh2(425); 

 Sm2(7o8); 84(654); 8m3(622) ; Sm4(ii2). 

 Cu shows effect better than Cd, Al or Zn. 

 Oxidization proved by chemical analysis: Sm2(7o8). 

 Shaded parts of surface also oxidized as well as parts directly struck 



by the rays: 8m2(7o8). 

 Au, Ag, and Pt show no oxidization in four hours: Sm2(6o9). 

 PbO turns brown by formation of Pb02: Sm2(7C9). 

 Hg2Cl2 turned black: Sm2(709). 



Not a heat effect, red Hgh not changed to the yellow iodide: Sm2(7o8). 

 Dissociating Action. 



With acetylene, carbon is deposited on walls: Kn3(35). 



No deposit where rays strike walls: Kn3(35). 

 N2O and CO2 easily dissociated by the rays: Kn3(37). 

 Dissociation of H2 and O2 may account for apparent chemical effects de- 

 scribed above: Sm2(7ii) ; Sm3(622) ; Sm4(ll3) ; 

 84(654) ; Ew3(304). 

 Metallic compounds decomposed: V2; V4; Tri(i42); An (327). 

 Action on Sensitized Paper. 



Canal rays affect sensitized papers, rendering them less sensitive to day- 

 light, so that by exposing a canal ray positive to sunlight, 

 it may be changed to a negative: Zni(38). 

 Celluloid paper is rendered more reflecting where rays strike: Zni. 

 Photographic action slow, long exposure necessary: Prti. 



II. MECHANICAL EFFECTS. 



Disintegration of Metals struck by the rays: 84(630); Tm2(2i4). 

 Too small in amount to weigh: Kl 1(871). 

 Varies for different metals : Al, none ; Cu, small ; Au and Pt, distinct 



deposit on walls of tubes ; brass disintegrated but no 



deposit: Kl 1(871). 

 Varies with gas, greater in air than in H2 in case of Au and Pt, 

 Not sensitive to traces of impurity in gas: Kli(872). 

 Penetrating Power. 



Canal rays will penetrate only extremely thin thicknesses of metal, paper, 



or mica: Wi ; W3(445) ; V3(i5). Metallic compounds 



decomposed: V2; V4; Tri(i42). 

 Penetrate deeper in Al than in Cu, a possible explanation of some of the 



secondary cathode ray emission phenomena: F3(307). 



