Search for Discontinuities in the Temperature Dependence of the Dielectric Constant of Pure Water from −5° to +25°C

Abstract

A search for discontinuities in the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant of pure water was made using 43 data points extending from −5° to +25°C. The dielectric constant values were determined by capacitance measurements made at frequencies varying from 500 cps to 50 kc/sec and the temperature controlled to ±0.01°C by a temperature control chamber. The analysis was performed by means of a statistical method of variance and an F test employed to determine the level of significance of any deviation from the least-squares fit of the data. An examination of the data in 1°C intervals from −1° to +21°C revealed no discontinuities between these limits and demonstrated the sensitive character of the variance method to slight errors in the data.