Abstract
SEVERAL hypotheses have been put forward1 to explain tho extremely long life-period of potassium, which conflicts with the theories of decay as well as with Sargent's empirical rule. Klemperer2, however, has shown by an investigation in detail that none of the processes suggested really exists. He concludes from his experiments that an unknown, relatively rare isotope,19K40, is responsible for the activity of potassium, and similarly an unknown isotope 37Rb86 in the case of rubidium.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
G. Gamow, NATURE, 133, 869; 1934. G. Beck and K. Sitte, NATURE, 133, 722; 1934.
O. Klemperer, Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 145, 638; 1935.
J. Mattauch, Z. Phys., 91, 361; 1934. K. Sitte, ibid., in print.
G. Hevesy, NATURE, 135, 96; 1935.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SITTE, K. Radioactivity of Potassium. Nature 136, 334–335 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/136334b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/136334b0
This article is cited by
-
Gli elementi debolmente radioattivi
Il Nuovo Cimento (1940)
-
19K43 and the Radioactivity of Potassium
Nature (1935)
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.