The emission of [alpha]-rays by radium is accompanied by the production of the inert elementary gas, helium; therefore, the [alpha]-rays are, or quickly change into, rapidly moving particles of helium.

The particles which constitute the [beta]-rays carry electric charges; these electrified particles, each approximately a thousand times lighter than an atom of hydrogen, moving nearly as rapidly as the pulsations of the ether which we call light, are named _electrons_.

The rays from radium compounds discharge electrified bodies, ionise gases, that is, cause them to conduct electricity, act on photographic plates, and produce profound changes in living organisms.
The radium emanation is a gas about 111 times heavier than hydrogen; to this gas Sir William Ramsay has given the name _niton_.

The gas has been condensed to a colourless liquid, and frozen to an opaque solid which glows like a minute arc-light.

Radium emanation gives off [alpha]-particles, that is, very rapidly moving atoms of helium, and deposits exceedingly minute quantities of a solid, radio-active substance known as radium A.The change of the emanation into helium and radium A proceeds fairly rapidly: the half-life period of the emanation is a little less than four days.