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At the end of the war it became apparent that the teamwork of government and scientific institutions, which had been so effective in wartime work, must somehow be perpetuated in order to insure the continued progress of nuclear science in peace time. The enormous expense of the tools needed to pursue the next steps in this research -- nuclear reactors and high energy accelerators -- and the shortage of scientifically trained personnel pointed towards the establishment of a cooperative laboratory. Such a laboratory, using government funds, could carry out a comprehensive research program that would benefit the many interested research groups throughout the country. As a result of the wartime programs under the Manhattan District, centers of research in nuclear science were already active at the Radiation Laboratory in Berkeley, California, at Los Alamos in New Mexico, at the Clinton Laboratories in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and at the Argonne Laboratory in Chicago. No analogous nuclear research laboratories, however, had developed in the Northeast, and since so much of the nation's scientific talent and industrial activities are concentrated in the northeastern states, it was proposed that a new laboratory be established near New York City. As a result of this plan, …

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It has been suggested in the past that special numbers of neutrons or protons in the nucleus form a particularly stable configuration.{sup1} The complete evidence for this has never been summarized, nor is it generally recognized how convincing this evidence is. That 20 neutrons or protons (Ca{sup40}) form a closed shell is predicted by the Hartree model. A number of calculations support this fact.{sup2} These considerations will not be repeated here. In this paper, the experimental facts indicating a particular stability of shells of 50 and 82 protons and of 50, 82, and 126 neutrons will be listed.

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Three individuals were inadvertently exposed to polonium. Activity determinations on the routine weekly urine samples submitted by the individuals revealed counts of 174, 734, and 2190 c/min/50 ml respectively. An investigation was immediately launched to determine the source of the exposure, since there was no report of a spill or accident involving active material. By the process of elimination, the time of exposure was narrowed down to a time when two of the individuals were engaged in the denitration of a polonium solution in a small kettie inside a hood when a leak developed in the kettle. The active solution was transferred from the kettle to a carboy. All three individuals were present during the transfer period. Two wore respirators, rubber gloves, and smocks over their coveralls while the third stood well behind and watched the procedure. However, it was concluded that an inhalation exposure resulted. A medical study of each case was instituted and data are summarized. No immediate toxic effects were observed. (C.H.)

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The major problems in this determination are the extraction of X from the sample and the isolation of the extracted X. The application of various analytical methods to these two problems indicates that the current method of analysis yields values which may be as much as 15% high. The current method of analysis is subject to positive and negative errors. The magnitude of these errors varies with techniques and with sample composition. The recommend method, although longer, is believed to be free of these errors, but a radical change, say 100 fold, in the composition of the sample would certainly require further investigation.

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This letter itemizes the miscellaneous equipment and supplies not previously specified which should be ordered to equip the 234-5 Chemical Development Laboratory. Equipment currently carried in store stock is not included in this list. The vendor is given only to identify the item or as a suggested source of supply.

This document is a de-classified June 1948 progress report on neutron source development at Monsanto Chemical`s Mound facility. Specific sources reviewed are: (1) Postum-beryllium, (2) Postum-Boron and Postum-Fluoborate, and (3) Postum-Lithium and Postum-Sodium. Preparation of each source is discussed, and some of their physical properties are given.

Solubilities -- Orban: The solubility of postum in various concentrations of nitric acid was determined at 25.4{degrees}C. Hydrofluoric and Trifluoroacetic Acids -- Abel and Raiff: Details of this work will be reported in the next Progress Report. Conversion of Nitric Acid Solutions to Hydrofluoric Acid Solutions -- Bell: Conversion of production solutions to hydrofluoric acid solutions was tried by precipitation with ammonium oxalate, aluminum hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, and sodium carbonate. Silver and Teflon discs were used.

This document is a de-classified July 1948 General Chemistry Progress Report from Monsanto Chemical`s Mound facility. Detailed discussions of numerous studies of Postum compounds are included in this report, and experimental data on various chemical and physical properties of these compounds are given.

The high rate neutron scaler has been removed from service for repair. Consequent study has led to the discovery of a double counting effect. The vacuum system of the vacuum balance is being redesigned and rebuilt so as to obtain a higher vacuum. The vapor pressure of postum was measured with a quartz sickle gauge between 0.3 and 90 mm. of mercury pressure at temperatures between 430{degrees} and 745{degrees}C. The least square representation of the data is the following: Log p = {sub T}{und 5377.8} + 7.2345 where p is the pressure in mm. of mercury and T is the absolute temperature. From this least square equation the extrapolated boiling point is 962.1{degrees}1{degrees}C. and the latent heat of vaporization is 24,597 calories per mole. A single crystal study of potassium chloride is being made since it is the crystal which is most nearly like a simple cubic lattice. The Geiger counter X-ray spectrometer belonging to Unit I was set up and a recorder attached so that certain patterns could be obtained more quickly. Continuation of the effusion experiment showed that data obtained were violently Inconsistent. The experimental work Is being dropped. At the end of the Physics Group Progress Report …

The work to determine the feasibility of a pratical solution counter for alphas has been continued through this month. It has developed that the electronic technique using an Amperex mica-window GM tube (1.4 mg./cm{sup 2} mica) is reliable, and it now appears that the problem is mainly one of solution-mounting technique. Two four-input gamma mixers and three two-input B-wall mixers have been given a final check and assembled in cabinets with their associated scalers. These scalars, Instrument Development Laboratory Model 161-S, were modified for use with either type mixer and may also be used for straight GM counting. One Instrument Development Laboratory Model 161-S, scale of 256 gamma counter has been given performance tests before being placed in operation at Mound Laboratory. Tests are being run on the parallel plate alpha counter Model K-262.

Progress is reported on the following projects: Quartz-fiber microbalance research, quartz-fiber construction and maintenance, design of multiple stirrer plating unit, and design of rotating stage for foil photography.

Studies on the conversion of production nitric acid solutions to bismuth free postum (Polonium 210) solutions and the plating of postum from the hydrofluoric acid solution.

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