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Bismuth bombarded with 32-Mev alpha-particles becomes radioactive. Two ranges of alpha-particles are emitted, one of 6. 55 cm and one of 4. 52 cm. These two alpha-particles are not genetically related. There are also x-rays which show the absorption characteristics of polonium x-rays. All these radiations separate together chemically as element 85, and all show the same half-life of 7. 5 hours. The probable explanation of these effects is the following: Bi^209, by an (, 2n) reaction, goes to 85^211, which decays either by K-electron capture to actinium C' (Po^211) or by alpha-particle emission (range 4. 5 cm) to Bi^207. The 6. 5-cm alpha-particles are those of actinium C'. According to this scheme the second branch from 85^211 leads to Bi^207 which should decay to Pb^207. As yet we have been unable to find this activity. We discuss the chemical properties of element 85 and show that in general its behavior is that of a metal.
Corson et al. (1940) studied this question.