Burnside Rare Books

The Scattering of alpha and beta Particles by Matter and the Structure of the Atom [and] Collision of a Particles with Light Atoms: I; Hydrogyn. II. Velocity of Hydrogen Atoms. III. Nitrogen and Oxygen Atoms. IV. An Anomalous Effect in Nitrogen. [in] The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, Sixth Series, Vol. 21 (May, 1911) [and] Vol. 37

Rutherford, Ernest

London: Taylor & Francis, 1919.

1911 & 1919. First edition. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, sixth series, vol. 21, (May, 1911). Complete volume, finely bound in blue marbled boards with leather spine lettered in gilt. Bound without wrappers, pp. 585-696, plus 3 plates; with paper by Ernest Rutherford on pp.[669]-688 entitled "The Scattering of alpha and beta Particles by Matter and the Structure of the Atom." [Bound with] The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, sixth series, vol. 37, featuring Rutherford's paper, "Collision of a particles with light atoms. I: Hydrogen. II: Velocity of the Hydrogen Atoms. III. Nitrogen and Oxygen Atoms. IV. An Anomalous Effect in Nitrogen" on pp.[537]-587; Complete volume, without wrappers, pp. 537-616, plus title page; title page of this volume shows evidence of removal of ovular stamp, likely institutional.

Two incredibly influential papers of 20th century physics: in the first, Rutherford announces the discovery of the nucleus in atomic structure, and in the second he announces the splitting of the atom for the very first time. "In 1911, as a result of bombarding goldfoil with alpha particles, Rutherford formulated the hypothesis of the nuclear construction of the atom which is the basis of all subsequent work in atomic physics and chemistry. Most of the alpha particles passed through the foil, but some bounced back. Rutherford interpreted the bouncing in terms of his theory. Those that went through were simply passing through the planetary systems of electrons, while those that bounced back had hit, or interacted with, a nucleus. Eight years later, as reported in the paper cited, he found that alpha particles in collision with nitrogen atoms liberated from them nuclei of hydrogen atoms. Thus artificial transmutation was induced: in other words the atom had been split." Printing and the Mind of Man, 411. Item #140940029

Price: $7,500.00