A Partition Function for Normal Liquids

Abstract

A theory of liquids designed to account for rate as well as thermodynamic properties is given. By considering the molecules of the liquid to be distributed at random among solid‐like and gas‐like equilibrium positions, where the introduction of a new equilibrium position requires a volume increase of about ⅛ the molecular volume, it is possible to derive an explicit partition function for liquids. The model embodies the features previously used in the theory of viscosity and diffusion. The thermodynamic properties of argon, nitrogen and benzene are calculated and compared with experiment.