Evening Star Newspaper, February 8, 1932, Page 21

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. ¢, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8 1932, P B HYDROGEN SOTOPE DSCOVERED HERE Result of Experiments May Explain Fundamental Mys- | | around it. Each one of these atoms is tery of Nature. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. The long-sought isotope of hydrogen | ~—whose existence may explain one of | mental mysteries of nature— The lightest and most primitive stuff 1n all creation which many believe to be the parent substance of the universe has been found to exist in another which is twice as heavy as ordi- hydrogen, by Dr. F. G. Brick- the low temperature lab. oratory at the Bureau of Standards and | Drs. Hareld C. Urey and G. M. Murphy of Columbia University. Th> new substance was obtained by “boiling” hydrogen at a point ver: close to absolute zero. fiirst ordinary hydrogen gas was reduced to a liquid | under intense pressure. Then the pres- | sure was reduced to the point where the | liquid changed into gas again—that is, | The ordinary hydrogen atoms, lightest, were reseased first in 'ss so that in the end all that remained was the hydrogen in this hitherto unknown form. Then the | atomic structure of the new substance | was determined by spectroscopic inves- Ugations carried on at Columbia Uni- versity. | Electrons Revolve. | Hydrogen, Dr. Brickwedde explained, ordinarily has been considered as com- posed of the simplest sorc of atoms. The atom consists of one unit of negative electricity, the electron, revolvin vround one unit of positive electricity the proton. The proton is 1.860 times heavier than the electron. The next simplest unit of matter was believed f . Two of them | jevolve around the nucleus, somewhat like planets around the sun. Right here came the great difficulty. Any theory of the evolu required an orderly pr the simplest to the m —that is, the beginning of things had to be conceived as an undifferentiated conglomeration of hydrogen. Then the | simple hydrogen atoms had to be con- ' Tuesday Wednesday Thursday we are pri lower the entire s | hydrogen the isotope is n | plained, exists in all hydrogen. | primiti pring sidered as coming together by collisions. in a more complex form to constitute atoms of the next heavier element. This would have required a practically simul- taneous sixfold collision of hydrogen atoms to produce a single helium atom. The mathematical probabilities were all against this first step. Has Different Structure. ‘The atom of the substance concen- trated by Dr. Brickwedde, as shown by spectroscopic investigations, consists of two protons and two electrons. The protons and one of the electrons are packed together in the nucleus, while the other electron revolves in an orbit exactly half of a helium atom. A sin- gle physical combination, by whatever means brought about, wouid account for the step from one element to another and the first step in the progress of the universe from an undifferentiated | conglomeration of hydrogen to all the multiple forms of matter. Although twice as heavy as ordinary t a new ele- ment, because the electric charge of its atom is exactly the same as that of the | lighter substance. One electron and one | on are neutralized by being packed | ogether in the nucleus so the charge | depends on the other proton and the electron revolving in an orbit—which is precisely the same condition as obtains | in an atom of ordinary hydrogen. i The isotope, Dr. Brickwedde & t s colorless, odorless and tasteless. It exactly like ordinary hydrogen except| for the differences revealed by the | spectroscope. It exists in ordinary| hydrogen in a ratio of about one part| in 4,000. | Secks Concentrated Form. { The liquid hydrogen was boiled at the Bureau of Standards at a tempera- ture of about —259 degrees centigrade, just 14 degrees above the absolut> 0 where all movement of particles would cease. Dr. Brickwedde now is con- ducting experiments to _secure material in a more concentrated form ! which its properties can be better estigated. Last April in the same laboratory helium, next to the lightest and most | substance in creation, was liquified in the low temperature labora- | tory for the first time in the United | S s with a temperature within a| ery few degrees of absolute zero. | ‘The existence of such a substance the hydrogen isotope, v G ST. NW. vile P ged to rice of stock of up-to-the-minute new Bettie Frocks always at 16.50.. for three days at 20% discount 3 we suggest the selection of two an evening gown or a Sunday il dresses night frock . . a black crepe or one in the new high shades . . a print or a knitted sports frock JICM | e e el sizes 12 to 4 not returnable ARR IS 1224. FSTREET ‘wedde said, is demanded to account for the difference between the atomic weights of hydrogen as determined by rhemists and by physicists. It is possible, Dr. Brickwedde said, that there also exists a still heavier isotope of hydrogen, three times a: heavy as ordinary hydrogen, the same electric charge. It probably is so rare, however, that there is little possibility of discovering it by present experimental means. It also is theo- retically probable, he says, that helium | exists in a heavier form, with one more proton and bound electron in its nucleus. Brazil's population has increased 27| per cent in the last 10 years. s but with | MONTGOMERY GROUP National Association ‘Will Head Delegation to Lex- ington Meeting. Special Dispatch to The Star. T0 SEEK HUNT TRIALS President ROCKVILLE, Md., February 8 —Carl Hunt of Washington, president of the National Fox Hunters' Association, will | head a delegation to visit Lexington, ! Ky, this week in an effort to obtain this year's field trials, bench show and horse show of the national organization for Montgomery County, with the Rockville Fair grounds as headquarters. Otto W. Anderson, agricultural agent for this county and secretary of the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, prob- ably wil go, and Clarence L. Gilpin, president of the Montgomery County Agricultural Society and connected with both the Maryland and Montgomery County Fox Hunters’ Associations, may possibly do so. The delegation expects to attend a meeting in Lexington Friday of the directors of the National Fox Hunters’ Association, and will guarantee .any | deficit up to $2,000. Should the county be decided upon it is thought likely that Washington would have to be called upon to help enter- tain from various the many sportsmen parts of the country expected to attend. ‘The Washington Board of Trade is said to be interested in the movement. e Falls Church Boy Hongored. FALLS CHURCH, Va., February 8 Miss Elizabeth Glenn, head of the com: mercial department of the Jefferson High School, has been informed that Kenneth Elliott of Falls Church, who graduated in June from Jeffersor. High School and who is now a secre‘arial student of the Pacific Extension Uni- versity, has regently “een honored by having his name placed on the na- tional honor roll of that university for unusual antl outstanding achievement. GRAINGER IS APPOINTED Noted Composer to Head Music Department of College. | NEW YORK, February 8 (#).—Percy | Grainger, internationally known pianist | and composer, has been appointed head of the music’ department of the New | York University College of Fine Arts, it was announced yesterday. He will succeed Albert Stoessel, who has become head of the opera depart- | ment of the Juilllard Graduate School. Mr. Grainger will be in active duty next September. In addition to su-| pervising the department, he will teach classes in musical appreciation and in | composition. | 'NEW DISCOVERY STOPS CAUSE of STOMACH GAS In his private practice, Dr. Carl discovered the cause of stomach gas was often in the UPPER bowel. So he perfected a simple remedy to wash out stomach and BOTH upper and lower bowel. He named this remedy Adlerika. Adlerika washes out poisons which cause gas, nervousness, bad sleep. Get Adlerika today, in 2 hours you will be rid of all gas and bowel poisons. 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