HEAVY OXYGEN

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 104, 4 May 1935, Page 6

HEAVY OXYGEN

BRITAIN MAKING PROGRESS

After two years of extensive research, Mr. J. B. M. Herbert, Lecturer in Physical Chemistry at ManchesterUniy,ersity, and: Professor M. Polanyi,, also of Manchester University, have succeeded in producing water containing heavy oxygen in appreciable concentration, states the Lon Jon "Datty Telegraph." This is believed to be the first time it has been produced in 'Britain.

Heavy oxygen water was first isolated two years ago by Professor Hertz in Berlin. It is contained—like heavy hydrogen water—in ordinary water, in the proportion of one part in 500, but is very difficult to isolate.

It is separated by passing the vapour of ordinary water through an intricate apparatus of glass and porous clay tubes. At present the apparatus is capable of producing only 20 milligrams fone-third of a grain) of heavy oxygen water per day.

Mr. Herbert said: "The chief advantI age of heavy oxygeri is that it will faciIlitate research into advanced -organic chemical reactions. Heavy oxygen is readily distinguishable from .the normal variety, and it will thus serve to indicate what is happening at any point of a chemical reaction. "The Heavy water -we have produced so far contains only a very small percentage of. heavy • oxygen,' but we are trying to obtain samples containing 1 per cent."

Mr. Herbert added that the new apparatus was. also capable of producing heavy hydrogen water;

"When the ■ attention of a famous chemist was drawn to the statement in London he remarked on-'its' importance on theoretical and scientific chemistry, and said it must not.be confuted with heavy hydrogen water, which liad been [much ill the news lately.