A Partition Function for Liquid Mercury

Abstract

From a model for liquid mercury we have formulated a partition function of sufficient generality to give by means of the usual statistical mechanical equations the vapor pressure, the equation of state, the entropy of melting and the specific heats. The partition function involves four parameters characterizing the particular substance concerned. Having chosen these parameters for mercury it is possible to calculate all the above properties from the melting point to the boiling point within experimental error except for a slight divergence of about 2 percent (0.1 cal./mole/degree) in the specific heat at the melting point. The van der Waals' constants follow from the theory and when employed in his equation give satisfactory agreement between calculated and observed critical properties. The long liquid range, low melting point, and low viscosity of metals are all in agreement with our model in which it is assumed that in the liquid the kernels move independently of their valence electrons.