Thermal Properties of Alcaline-Earth-Oxides I. Specific heat measurements 1-3 Centre National de Recherches sur les Tres Basses Temperatures

The heat capacities of MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO, having NaCl-structure, have been measured with an adiabatic calorimeter capable to measure heat capacities of solids between 1.2 and 340 °K. A mechanical thermal switch is used for specimen cooling and the temperature calibration above 4 °K is performed with a gas thermometer. The values of the specific heats, Cv , are tabulated. The entropies at 273.15 °K are 27.19; 38.3; 51.9; and 66.9 for MgO. CaO, SrO and BaO respectively, in J/mol °K. The accuracy of the measurements is estimated to be better than 0.8% (smoothed curve).