Velocity of Sound in Liquids and Chemical Constitution

Abstract

A study of the recently obtained data on the velocity of sound and density in liquids reveals a simple relation between these quantities namely the law, v^⅓M/ρ = R where v is the velocity of sound in the liquid, M the molecular weight, ρ the density and R a constant independent of temperature. It is shown that the velocity of sound cannot be a proper basis of comparison in any homologous series. The result of plotting the constant R against the molecular weight of members of homologous series leads to the equation R = αM + β where α is a general constant and β a characteristic constant for any one homologous series. The difference in R for successive members of homologous series is a constant independent of the series and R is an additive function of the chemical structure. Values of R for hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, bromine, and chlorine are tabulated.