XCVIII. The surface energies of the alkali metals

Abstract

Abstract The surface energies of the alkali metals sodium, potassium and lithium and their temperature coefficients have been measured experimentally. The values for lithium and sodium are in good agreement with similar theoretically calculated surface energies obtained by Stratton (1953). The disparity between the experimental and theoretical surface energy values for potassium and that between the experimental and theoretical temperature coefficients of the three metals is discussed.