422 On the Ultra-violet Spectrum of Gadolinium. 



used in the fractionation,* while calcium is represented by the great 

 H and K pair, which are almost always present in earthy spectra. 



I have also examined the phosphorescent spectrum of Urbain's 

 gadolinium by means of photography. In 1886 I communicated a 

 paper to the Royal Society,! on the visible spectrum of phosphorescing 

 Ya (gadolinia), given to me by Marignac, and also prepared by myself, 

 and later in the year J I said that the gadolinium I was then working 

 with showed, on the evidence of its phosphorescent spectrum, the- 

 presence of samarium and other impurities. Since that time I have- 

 used the photographic method of examining phosphorescent spectra, 

 and in 1899 I brought before the Royal Society, a preliminary notice 

 of a new element, Victorium, the existence of which I was led to 

 infer from its chemical properties, and from some bands in its phosphor- 

 escent spectrum. These bands consist of a strong group high up 

 in the ultra-violet spectrum, having wave-lengths of 3117 3120,, 

 3060, 3064, and 3219. 



The specimens of gadolinia prepared by myself in 1886, as well as 

 that sent me by Marignac, gave these victorium bands faintly, and the- 

 gadolinia given me by M. Urbain also showed the same bands in 

 greater strength than the other lines and bands I have ascribed to- 

 samarium and yttrium. Early this month M. Urbain has sent me a 

 specimen of gadolinium which he considers quite pure, and on testing 

 it in the vacuum tube for its phosphorescent spectrum I find the- 

 victorium bands photograph stronger than they came out in the other 

 specimen. At the same time I do not think that victorium i& 

 gadolinium. All the evidence from chemical and phosphorescent data 

 tends to the conclusion that victorium is only present as an impurity 

 in the gadolinium, and the strength with which it reveals its presence 

 is mainly due to the excessive delicacy of the test. 



* In a still purer specimen from M. Urbain, recently received, these impurities- 

 are absent. 



t ' Roy. Soc. Proc.,' vol. 40, p. 236, Feb., 1886. 

 t ' Roy. Soc. Proc.,' vol. 40, p. 503, June, 1886. 

 ' Roy. Soc. Proc.,' vol. 65, p. 237, May, 1899. 



