Self-Diffusion in Liquid Mercury

Abstract

Self‐diffusion in liquid mercury was determined by a shear cell method. At atmospheric pressure, D=8.5 × 10^—5 exp(—1005/RT) cm² sec^—1 from 0° to 98°. At 30° for pressures ranging up to 8366 kg cm^—2, log₁₀D = —0.572T_m/T—4.348, or log₁₀D=—4.7889—9.637×10^—6P (kg cm^—2). The activation volume is 0.587 cm³. The pressure dependences of viscosity and diffusivity are identical within experimental error, but the temperature variations are not equal. The results are discussed in terms of an imperfect crystal lattice model of a liquid.