The Effect of Temperature on the Atomic Distribution in Liquid Sodium

Abstract

X-ray diffraction patterns of liquid sodium at eight temperatures ranging from 100°C to 400°C have been obtained with monochromatic Mo $K\alpha$ radiation. Fourier analyses of the 100°C and the 400°C intensity curves were made in order to obtain the atomic distribution functions. The distribution function at 400°C shows that at this temperature, the first concentration of atoms about any atom occurs at a distance of 3.90 A and the second concentration of atoms occurs at about 7.2A. The peaks in this curve are broader, and the curve approaches the average density more rapidly, than in the 100°C case. For sodium at 100°C, the distance of closest approach of the atoms is 3.83A.