Abstract
THE interesting investigations of Messrs. Hughes and Poindexter1 showed that a trap lined with alkali metal is as satisfactory as a liquid air trap, for preventing mercury vapour diffusing back into a vacuum system from a mercury pump. This method offers several advantages, with one disadvantage: it is difficult to clean commercial alkali metals and to avoid the introduction of various impurities (for example, organic vapours, hydrogen, carbonic dioxide) in the vacuum system. However, there exists one method—the glass-electrolysis—which enables very clean sodium to be introduced into closed glass vessels. This elegant method can be easily applied to any normal glass or pyrex glass apparatus by providing the mercury trap with an incandescent cathode and immersing it partially in molten sodium salt. We have already used a similar method in the manufacture of photoelectric cells.2
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
F. E. Poindexter, J. Opt. Soc. Am., 9, 629; 1924. A. LI. Hughes and F. E. Poindexter, Phil. Mag. (6), 50, 423; 1925.
L. Marton and E. Rostas, Zeit. J. Techn. Phys., 10, 52; 1929.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MARTON, L. Mercury Traps. Nature 130, 739 (1932). https://doi.org/10.1038/130739a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/130739a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.