A vertical-plate balance has been used to
measure the surface tension and temperature coefficient of surface tension of
liquid sodium and potassium. A value of 200.2�0.6 dyn
cm-1 was obtained for the surface tension of liquid sodium at the
melting point (97.8�), with a temperature coefficient of -0.11 dyn cm-1
deg-1. For liquid potassium the surface tension was found to be
110.3�1.0 dyn cm-1 at the melting point
(64�), with a temperature coefficient of -0.06 dyn cm-1
deg-1. These results are compared with other published values of
these quantities. A discussion, based on the statistical mechanics of a
quasi-crystalline model of the liquid state, suggests that the chemical
impurities present in the liquid metals are unlikely to have significantly
increased the surface tension values above those of the pure metals.
Wettability of Pure Metals with Liquid Sodium and Liquid Tin
