Evidence for the Existence of Homogeneous Groups of Large Ions.

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Abstract
Homogeneous groups of large ions in air.—The existence of such groups, which seemed proved by previous work reported by the author and others, has recently been questioned by the negative results obtained by Blackwood. Hence further experiments have been made using the Zeleny method adopted by Blackwood instead of the McClelland method previously employed. The thirty curves obtained nearly all show two or more peaks or breaks corresponding to definite groups. These peaks came at the same places whether the ions were produced by bubbling the air through alcohol or by passing it over phosphorus. The mobilities of the groups agree with the values previously reported within 10 per cent. or less:.050,.025,.018,.0075,.0042,.0025,.0013,.00067,.00033. Some evidence of intermediate groups was also obtained. In explanation of Blackwood's negative results it is suggested that since ions are constantly changing from group to group, definite peaks can be expected only if the time spent by each ion in the measuring chamber is relatively short. In Blackwood's experiments this time was from 9 to 150 seconds whereas it was only from 0.5 to 13 seconds in the experiment reported here.

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