Cadmium-magnesium alloys, solubilities

The key to the partitioning of thorium in the described conceptual flow sheet is the solubility in cadmium-magnesium. Experimental data associated with this problem have been obtained. The weight percent thorium in solution was determined by taking samples of the equilibrated liquid at varying temperatures and alloy compositions. The samples were analyzed for thorium, magnesium, and cadmium using atomic absorption spectroscopy and the results are estimated to have a relative accuracy of 3%. 

Modifications. It should be noted that both of the solvent elements, copper and silver, are monovalent, i.e. they both have atoms in which there is only one outer-layer or valency electron, while the solute elements, zinc, magnesium, cadmium and berylium, are all divalent, i.e. they all have atoms with two outer-layer or valency electrons. We shall soon be in a position to show how important in alloy structures these valency electrons can be we must content ourselves for the moment, however, by stating that Hume-Bothery has examined the solid solubility of various metals in the divalent solvent magnesium, and has shown that the favourable size-factor principle may be equally well applied to magnesium alloys, typical of... 

---