XVII. On the atomic weight of glucinum (Beryllium)

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rstl.1883.0017 ◽

1883 ◽

Vol 174 ◽

pp. 601-613

Keyword(s):

Specific Heat ◽

Volatile Compound ◽

Atomic Weight ◽

Normal Number ◽

Vapour Density ◽

Atomic Heat ◽

Lothar Meyer ◽

Free Metal

I. Introductory. Ever since the discovery of glucinum by Vauquelin, in 1798, its atomic weight has been a disputed matter amongst chemists. Its discoverer considered that its oxide was a monoide, an opinion which was however strongly opposed by Berzelius, who wrote the oxide Gl 2 O 3 and the atomic weight 13⋅7 (O=16). The researches of Awdejew and Debrayt again turned the scale in favour of the earlier view, and as an atomic weight of 9⋅2 suited the properties of the metal in the tables of periodicy constructed by MM. Mendeleef and Lothar Meyer, this atomic weight has, up to quite recently, been generally accepted by chemists. As a welcome confirmation to this came a determination of the specific heat of the metal by Professor E. Reynolds, J who found that for its atomic heat to be near the normal number 6⋅0, its atomic weight must be 9⋅2 and not 13⋅8. Almost immediately afterwards a second determination of the specific heat was made by MM. Nilson and Petterson, who, however, obtained a result agreeing not with the lower atomic weight hut with the higher. The reasons for these conflicting opinions are to be found—first, in the anomalous position of glucinum among the elements; secondly, in the difficulties which surround the preparation of even small quantities of the free metal in a tolerably pure condition; and thirdly, in the fact that no volatile compound of glucinum is known of which the vapour density might be easily determined.

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II. Note on the atomic weight of glucinum or beryllium

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rspl.1883.0041 ◽

1883 ◽

Vol 35 (224-226) ◽

pp. 248-250

Keyword(s):

Specific Heat ◽

Atomic Weight ◽

Minute Quantity ◽

The Difference ◽

Atomic Heat

In the course of a paper by Professor Humpidge on the above subject, recently read before the Society, the author seeks to decide between the atomic weight 9·2 for beryllium, resulting from my comparison of the atomic heat of the element with that of silver and aluminium, and the value 13·8, arrived at by MM. Nilson and Pettersson by determination of specific heat.J The difference between the two possible atomic weights is so small, and the difficulties met with in attempting to prepare even a few decigrams of beryllium are so great, that both sets of experiments have been objected to on the ground, amongst others, that the metal employed was in all cases impure. My specimen admittedly contained a minute quantity of platinum, and the Proportion of known impurity in one of MM. Wilson and Pettersson's specimens reached 13 per cent. Unfortunately, Professor Humpidge's metal though claimed to be the purest yet prepared, is shown by analysis to be rather less pure than one of the specimens employed by Nilson and Pettersson, hence the experiments lately made known to the Society do not carry the inquiry beyond the point previously reached, save in one noteworthy particular, namely, that there appears to be a considerable, though irregular, rise in specific heat of the element as the proportion of impurity diminishes; but the value is still much below that required for the atomic weight 9·2. Thus for a specimen of beryllium which contained 13 per cent. of known of impurity Wilson and Pettersson obtained the specific heat 0·4084 between 0° and 100° C., and for a less impure specimen 0·425; while Professor Humpidge, in one of his experiments with a material that contained 6 per cent, of impurity, found the specific heat to be nearly 0·45 (0·4497). In all these cases corrections were applied which were believed to eliminate the effects due to the impurities known to be present—in part mechanically mixed with the metal and partly alloyed with it.

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II. On the atomic weight of glucinum (beryllium)

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rspl.1883.0024 ◽

1883 ◽

Vol 35 (224-226) ◽

pp. 137-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Specific Heat ◽

Volatile Compounds ◽

Atomic Weight ◽

Vapour Density

In this paper the author shows that no conclusions with respect to the atomic weight of glucinum can be drawn from analogy of its compounds with those of other metals, and that this long-disputed question can only be decided by the specific heat of the metal or by the vapour-density of some of its volatile compounds. Two determinations of the specific heat have been made by Professor E. Reynolds and by M. Nilson, the former of whom obtained a result of about 0.6, and the latter only about 0.4.

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The specific heats of metals and the relation of specific heat to atomic weight. Part II

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rspl.1902.0086 ◽

1903 ◽

Vol 71 (467-476) ◽

pp. 220-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Keyword(s):

Specific Heat ◽

Atomic Weight ◽

Absolute Zero ◽

Nickel Steel ◽

Pure Aluminium ◽

Specific Heats ◽

Nickel Cobalt ◽

Weight Part ◽

The Mean ◽

Atomic Heat

The following values have been obtained for the mean specific heats, of pure aluminium, nickel, cobalt, silver, and platinum, within the several limits of temperature indicated: From these results the specific heats at successive temperatures on the absolute scale have been calculated, and it appears that the assumption of a constant atomic heat at absolute zero is untenable. The mean specific heat of a sample of nickel steel, containing 36 percent, of nickel and having remarkably small dilatation, was found to be as follows.

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III. Preliminary note on some aluminium compounds

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rspl.1865.0006 ◽

1865 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 19-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Keyword(s):

Specific Heat ◽

Atomic Weight ◽

Preliminary Note ◽

Entire Series ◽

Existing Data

Until recently the molecule of aluminic chloride had always been represented by the formula Al 2 Cl 3 , or, selecting the high atomic weight of aluminium, as required by its specific heat, A1 Cl 3 . But since Deville’s determination of the vapour-densities of aluminic and ferric chlorides, many chemists of eminence, both in this country and abroad, have adopted the formula Al 2 Cl 6 , and have consistently doubled the previously received formulæ for the entire series of aluminic compounds. In our opinion, however, the hitherto existing data seemed hardly sufficient for the definitive establishment of either set of formulæ; and it occurred to us that an examination of the so-called organo-compounds of aluminium might not improbably throw some important light upon the question at issue between them.

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Bakerian lecture.—On the specific heat of metals and the relation of specific heat to atomic weight

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rspl.1899.0097 ◽

1900 ◽

Vol 66 (424-433) ◽

pp. 244-247 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Keyword(s):

Specific Heat ◽

Atomic Weight ◽

The Law ◽

Cobalt And Nickel

The experiments described in this paper were begun with the object of assisting in the determination of the relative values of the atomic weights of cobalt and nickel, but were continued with the further purpose of testing the validity of the law of Dulong and Petit.

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I. Remarks on the atomic weight of beryllium

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rspl.1883.0132 ◽

1883 ◽

Vol 36 (228-231) ◽

pp. 462-464

Keyword(s):

Experimental Determination ◽

Homologous Series ◽

Royal Society ◽

Chemical Society ◽

Atomic Weight ◽

Atomic Heat

In a reply to a note by Professor Emerson Reynolds “On the Atomic Weight of Glucinum or Beryllium,” presented to the Royal Society by Dr. Frankland on June 7th, 1883, Dr. Humpidge has made some critical observations concerning evidence which I adduced in favour of the value 9 or 9.2. I did not consider that these remarks called for notice at the time, as they were beside the question immediately under discussion, namely, the experimental determination of the atomic heat of the metal, but from the fact that they have been abstracted for various journals, and that greater prominence has been given to them than was perhaps originally intended by the author, I beg to be allowed to comment upon them, as my opinions have been entirely misrepresented. Dr. Humpidge states in allusion to me: “This chemist concludes from his experiments that glucinum is a dyad metal, and that its homologues are calcium, strontium, and barium, elements with which it has not the slightest analogy.” From this sentence it appears probable that Dr. Humpidge was not fully acquainted with the nature of the evidence advanced, which, however, might be excusable, since though the two papers in which it was contained were read at the meetings of the Chemical Society, that “On Homologous Spectra” on March 15th, and that “On the Spectrum of Beryllium” on April 19th, they were not published in the Journal in time for him to have consulted them. The statement quoted above is precisely my argument. “The spectrum of beryllium exhibits no marked analogy with the calcium, the magnesium, or the aluminium spectra, all of which are members of well-defined homologous series.”

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