Thorium Nitrate Research Articles

The Solubility of Thorium Nitrate Tetrahydrate in Organic Solvents at 25°C.

The Solubility of Thorium Nitrate Tetrahydrate in Organic Solvents at 25°C.

Thorium Borate Sol and Gel

BERZELIUS1 reported that boric acid precipitates white flocculent thorium borate when added to a solution of a salt of that element; the precipitate is insoluble in an excess of boric acid. Karl2 discussed the composition of the amorphous white precipitate obtained by treating an aqueous solution of thorium nitrate with a hot solution of borax and showed that the composition corresponded with thorium orthoborate, Th3 (BO3)4. Guertler3 could not prepare thorium borate by fusing thoria with boric oxide on account of the very sparing solubility of the thoria. A search of the literature revealed that no work is on record on the formation of the hydrosol and the hydrogel of thorium borate. An attempt has now been successfully made in this laboratory to prepare thorium borate hydrosol and hydrogel.

Thorium Nitrate Titration of Fluoride with Special Reference to Determining Fluorine and Sulfur in Hydrocarbons

Download Hi-Res ImageDownload to MS-PowerPointCite This:Ind. Eng. Chem. Anal. Ed. 1945, 17, 2, 100-106

Use of Thorium Nitrate to Distinguish between Pectin and Certain Gums

Use of Thorium Nitrate to Distinguish between Pectin and Certain Gums

Titration of Small Quantities of Fluorides with Thorium Nitrate. I. Effect of Changes in The Amount of Indicator and Acidity

Titration of Small Quantities of Fluorides with Thorium Nitrate. I. Effect of Changes in The Amount of Indicator and Acidity

Titration of Small Quantities of Fluorides with Thorium Nitrate II. Effects of Chlorides and Perchlorates

Titration of Small Quantities of Fluorides with Thorium Nitrate II. Effects of Chlorides and Perchlorates

The Retention of Thorium Dioxide by the Reticulo-endothelial System

SINCE thorium dioxide solution was first used clinically by Radt (1), little has been learned about its rate of elimination from the body. We have been able to determine by roentgenograms that the liver and spleen retain some qualitatively large portion of the compound, but it is most logical that the radio-activity of the thorium series, which has engendered much of the prevalent suspicion of its physiological effects, should be chosen as an indicator for actual measurement of retention by the organism. The Geiger-Müller counter offers a sufficiently sensitive, simple, and rapid method for measuring such small intensities of radiation directly from the patient. Experimental work was, therefore, undertaken with this type of instrument to determine the average retention of intravenously administered thorium dioxide in the human organism. The absolute intensity of gamma radiation from fresh commercial thorotrast has been determined, in the course of our preliminary calibrations, to be equivalent to approximately 1.9 × 10−8 grams of radium per cubic centimeter. The factor is also substantiated by the recent work of Taft (2), whose measurements indicate a value of about 1.8 × 10−8. Although the radio-active life of thoriumin equilibrium with its decay products is far too great to be a perceptible factor in a clinical investigation, it has been shown that thorium dioxide as prepared commercially from thorium nitrate originally includes none of the decay series except radiothorium. From this beginning, the decay of the relatively short-lived radiothorium together with the natural production of mesothorium will combine to cause a fairly rapid change in the alpharay activity of the sample. According to the calculations of Schlundt1 and others, the alpha radiation from a given sample of freshly prepared ThO2 decreases by about half during the first five years, then gradually increases over a period of approximately thirty years to its original value. During this time, the gamma radiation, however, undergoes a much smaller variation. This gamma radiation, being the only portion which can penetrate through the abdominal wall, will of course constitute the portion measurable by external apparatus. Unfortunately, complete parallel history of the gamma-ray activity of thorium dioxide solution in vitro was not possible, since the data herewith submitted include patients who received thorium injections two or three years before the beginning of the experiment. During the few months over which actual measurements have been taken, original ampules of the thorium solution have maintained their gamma-ray activity constant within the experimental errors of the original reading. Since the inherent difficulty of such work with living patients precludes any high degree of accuracy, we have for the sake of simplicity assumed the gamma-ray intensity of ThO2 to be approximately constant over the four-year period covered by these data.

Effect of Adrenal Cortical Hormone on Renal Excretion of Electrolytes in Normal Subjects

The effect of the adrenal cortical hormone on the renal excretion of electrolytes in normal human subjects has been described. A marked alteration in the renal excretion of sodium and potassium was noted during a 5-hour period in which the subjects received adrenal cortical hormone intravenously; little or no effect was observed on the subsequent 24-hour excretion. Subcutaneous injections of hormone in a quantity sufficient to produce a change in the sodium and potassium balance of patients with Addison's disease did not affect the balance of electrolytes in normal subjects. It seemed probable that repeated injections of larger quantities of hormone might produce a significant alteration in the 24-hour renal excretion. In the present study the effect of repeated intravenous injections of hormone on the 24-hour renal excretion of 3 normal subjects has been observed. Three subjects (F. D., female, 14 years of age; D. W., female, 29 years of age; G. W., male, 31 years of age) were provided with a diet of constant mineral composition and a constant fluid intake. The subjects had been maintained on a constant metabolic regime for other purposes during a period of 3 to 4 weeks immediately preceding this investigation. The 24-hour urine collection was completed at 7 A. M. The subjects were injected intravenously with adrenal cortical hormone (500 dog units) at 8 A. M., 12 M., 6 P. M., and 11 P. M. An amount of normal saline solution equivalent to the sodium chloride content of the extract was injected during the 24-hour control period. The preparation of the diet and the methods used for determining the sodium, chloride, phosphate and total nitrogen content of both diet and urine specimens have been described. Potassium determinations were made according to the method of Shohl and Bennett on specimens ashed with thorium nitrate.

Effects of Thorium on Blood and Liver Enzymes of White Rats

In a previous communication some of the effects of thorium, zirconium, titanium and cerium on enzyme action in vitro were reported. Due to the peculiar physico-chemical properties of these metals, especially in respect to their precipitability in protein solutions it was deemed advisable to determine whether these effects could be observed in vivo. Roussy, Oberling and Guerin have reported that thorium dioxide is carcinogenic when administered intraperitoneally to rats. In this investigation an attempt is being made to determine the effects produced by the intraperitoneal injection of varying amounts of soluble thorium nitrate, Th(NO3)4, on a variety of the blood and liver enzymes of the adult white rat. The effects upon the following enzymes were investigated: blood amylase, blood lipase, blood esterase and blood phosphatase. The following liver enzymes were investigated : liver amylase, liver lipase, liver esterase, liver phosphatase, liver xanthine dehydrogenase, liver glucose dehydrogenase, and liver lactic dehydrogenase. Amylase was determined by the Willstatter-Schudel method, lipase and esterase by the method suggested by Sure et al., phosphatase by the method described by Bodansky and the inorganic phosphorus determined by the method of Fiske and Subbarrow. The dehydrogenase activities were estimated by the Thunberg technique as adapted by Collett. Twenty-one adult white rats were used for the study. Two sets of controls were run. One set of controls was inoculated with physiological saline and the other received an injection of dilute hydrochloric acid equivalent to the acid strength of the thorium injected into the experimental animals.

A cheap miniature incandescent gas lamp

A simple and cheap, yet robust, miniature incandescent gas lamp is described. Details are given of the methods of preparing and mounting the pellet, which consists of a minute quantity of absorbent cotton wool soaked in a solution of thorium and cerium nitrates.

Critical Potentials of the Thorium M Series Lines

M-series of x-ray lines of thorium.---Spectrograms taken with various potentials decreasing in steps from 10 kv to 3.2 kv, are reproduced which show six lines, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ to $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ of Stenstr\"om and a new line ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}$ of wave-length 2.85 A. By use of screens made of tissue paper soaked in thorium nitrate, five absorption limits, ${\mathrm{M}}_{1}$ to ${\mathrm{M}}_{5}$, were found, checking the results of Stenstr\"om and Coster. The critical potentials of the six lines were determined and found to agree with the values predicted by the quantum law from the corresponding absorption limits ${\mathrm{M}}_{1}$ to ${\mathrm{M}}_{5}$, both $\ensuremath{\delta}$ and ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{1}$ corresponding to ${\mathrm{M}}_{4}$, and ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}$ to ${\mathrm{M}}_{5}$.Vacuum x-ray spectrograph is described in which a screen with a slit is rotated in front of the plate at twice the angular speed of the crystal so as to prevent scattered rays from striking the plate.

Toxicity of Pyelographic Mediums: Report of a Death Following the Use of Thorium Nitrate

Toxicity of Pyelographic Mediums: Report of a Death Following the Use of Thorium Nitrate

THE USE OF SODIUM BROMID IN ROENTGENOGRAPHY

In the past, various substances have been used as opaque mediums in pyelography. Among such substances may be mentioned bismuth, the colloidal silver solutions (collargol, argyrol, electrargol, cargentos, etc.), and several preparations of silver iodid and thorium. Many of these substances, when retained in the renal pelvis, have a more or less irritating action on the kidneys, as has been demonstrated experimentally by Braasch and Mann, who injected the kidney pelves of sixty-seven dogs, and compared the effects of a variety of solutions. The results of their experiments show that the silver preparations act as foreign bodies, frequently causing multiple foci of necrosis, and that such focal necrosis may also occasionally occur when there is insufficient drainage from a kidney pelvis, even when bland fluids are used. Thorium nitrate in a 15 per cent, solution, as suggested by Burns, caused the least reaction of the various opaque mediums. This medium

AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF POTASSIUM AND SODIUM IODIDS AS OPAQUE MEDIUMS IN ROENTGENOGRAPHY

Emulsions of the insoluble salts of bismuth and barium have proved to be very satisfactory mediums for the roentgen examination of the gastro-intestinal tract. Emulsions, however, are not so satisfactory for similar examinations of the genito-urinary tract, in which it is essential to have a stable, homogeneous medium of as low a viscosity as possible. Nontoxicity and opacity to the roentgen ray are, of course, the prime essentials for such mediums. Nontoxic colloidal solutions of heavy metals, also even a few emulsions, such as that of silver iodid, have proved to be quite satisfactory. But on account of some of their physical properties, not to mention difficulty in their preparation, none of these mediums has proved to be ideal. In the spring of 1915, Burns published his first report of the use of thorium nitrate in pyelography. This solution has a number of advantages over the mediums in common use

THORIUM—A NEW AGENT FOR PYELOGRAPHY

BALTIMORE In order that a solution may be ideally suited for use in pyelography, it must fulfil the following conditions: It should be nontoxic, nonirritating, and quite fluid, so as immediately to escape from ureters and bladder, and present the greatest possible degree of opacity to the Roentgen ray, casting not only a good shadow but also one of clear delineation. Various colloidal solutions of salts of the heavy metals such as iron, silver, bismuth, copper and lead, and suspensions of the salts of bismuth, calcium and magnesium have been tried. All of these solutions sediment on standing, and while being, for the most part, quite opaque to the Roentgen ray, are viscous, and some are quite toxic and irritating. Thorium nitrate dissolves readily in water, giving a clear, markedly acid solution, which, while being opaque to the Roentgen ray, is unsuitable for use because of its being an irritant,

Societies and Academies

PARIS. Academy of Sciences, August 7.—M. le Général Bassot in the chair.—Sir William Ramsay: The action of niton (the radium emanation) on thorium salts. Commenting on a recent paper by M. Herschfinkel on this subject, the author gives details of the method of purification of the thorium nitrate used in his experiments, with especial reference to the destruction of any organic matter which might have been present in the crude salt.—Kr. Birkeland: Are the rings of Saturn due to an electrical radiation from the planet? A description of the phenomena observed when a magnetised globe is placed in a strong electric field. Three photographic reproductions of the appearance of the globe under these conditions show the similarity of the luminous ring with that of Saturn. Observations by other workers are also cited in support of this view.—J. Guillaume: Observations of the Kiess comet (19116b) made with the Brunner equatorial of the Lyons Observatory. Data are given for July 15, 17, 20, and 2t.—J. Ph. Lagrula and H. Chretien: The Kiess comet (1911b). Its photographic aspect and its spectrum. One photograph showed a well-defined tail to the comet 1° in length. The spectrum contained cyanogen bands and the blue hydrocarbon band.—Marcel Brillouin: Crystalline elements and molecular orientation.—Daniel Berthelot and Henry Gaudechon: The photolysis of alcohols, acid anhydrides, ether oxides, and esters by the ultra-violet rays. Alcohols are characterised by evolution of hydrogen and formation of aldehydes. Ethers give carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and saturated hydrocarbons. Various esters were also submitted to ultra-violet light, and the gases produced are tabulated.—Amé Pictet and Alphonse Gams: The synthesis of berberine. Starting with homopiperonylamine, hydroberberine has been synthesised with homoveratryl-homopiperanylamine, and veratryl-norhydrohydrastinine as intermediate steps. Berberine has already been obtained from tetrahydro-berberine, so that the synthesis is complete.—L. Tchougaeff and G. Pigoulewsky: Dithiocampho-carbonic acid.—S. Losanitch: The constitution of divalolactone.—E. Caille: A modification of the Friedel and Crafts reaction yielding α-naphthalenic ketones exclusively. The reaction is effected in carbon bisulphide at a temperature of 0° C. The yield of ketone is high, 60 per cent, to 80 per cent.; five examples of the application of the method are given.—Maurice Arthus: The specific characters of the antivenom serums. Anticobra serum and the poisons of the hamadryas (Naja bungarus) and krait (Bungarus coeruleus).—J. Courmont and A. Rochaix: Negative attempts at antituberculous immunisation by the intestine. —J. Kunckel d'Herculais: Observations on the habits of a myriopod (Scutigera coleoptrata). Its utility in destroying flies. The action of its poison: its supposed accidental I presence in the digestive apparatus of man.—Pierre Girard: The preponderating rdle of two electrostatic factors in the osmosis of solutions of electrolytes. Normal osmotic movements.—Em. de Martonne: Results of the morphological analysis of the erosion levels of the Arc and Isère valleys.

"A preliminary study of the toxicological action of thorium"

Our experiments comprised the third series in a study, still in progress, of the toxicology of rare elements. They were twenty-seven in number, and were performed on as many animals (frogs, mice, dogs). They were carried out before Baskerville's announcement of his discovery that thorium contains two new elements, named by him berzelium and carolinium. Publication of our results was deferred because of our desire and intention to complete the work with a study of the toxicological effects of these two new elements, which Professor Baskerville has generously agreed to furnish at a later stage in his investigations. The foregoing communication by Professor Sollmann has induced us, however, to present our results as they stand. In some of the early experiments (1900) it was found that thorium (nitrate) had a uniform precipitative effect on various connective tissue mucoids. In a study with Professor Loeb (1902), on the antitoxic influence of ions, thorium (nitrate) was used as a tetravalent element, and was found to exert only very slight, almost inappreciable antitoxic effects in mNaCl, with fertilized Fundulus eggs as the indicators. At that time we observed a strong precipitative effect of thorium on protoplasm, and a marked toxicity on various fishes, and on both fertilized and unfertilized Fundulus eggs in sea water, although these facts were not recorded in our paper. In the experiments on frogs and warm-blooded animals the tetrachlorid was used exclusively. Of our results the following were in harmony with those reported by Brown and Sollmann : Thorium exerts marked astringent action. The chlorid is acid in reaction (in water). The aqueous solution of the chlorid blanched and hardened tissues, proteins were precipitated by it, and blood not only precipitated but blackened. Injected directly into the circulation even very small doses caused intravenous precipitation, and resulted fatally. Subcutaneous injection resulted in local necrosis. We have had no experiments with thorium in citrate solution nor on the excretion of thorium.

"A preliminary communication on the pharmacology Of thorium"

Thorium nitrate precipitates proteins and is intensely astringent. Its intravenous injection is promptly fatal by embolism. Applied subcutaneously, it causes local necrosis. Administered by the stomach, even large doses have no appreciable effect. Solutions in sodium citrate were found to be nonprecipitant and nonastringent. As much as 1 gm. of thorium nitrate, per kilogram of dog, injected subcutaneously and intravenously in citrate solution, had little acute action; however, the animals appeared depressed and became emaciated. The postmortem examination, made after several weeks, showed extensive and widespread calcification of tissues. Thorium could not be demonstrated in the calcified areas. A method for the quantitative estimation of thorium was elaborated; this gave satisfactory results with urine, to which known quantities where added. But in actual experiments on animals it was found inaccurate, a large proportion of the injected thorium escaping detection. However, it was found that on intravenous or subcutaneous injection, the thorium appeared in the urine, and not in the feces. When administered by mouth, it appeared in the feces, but not in the urine. The conclusion appears justified that absorbed thorium is excreted by the kidneys, but that the metal is neither absorbed nor excreted through the intestine.

Two Cases of Lung Disease Treated with the Emanations from Thorium Nitrate

Two Cases of Lung Disease Treated with the Emanations from Thorium Nitrate