Some observations of thermodynamic and electron transport properties in expanded liquid mercury and amalgams

Abstract

Experimental observations have been made at temperatures up to 1450 degrees C and pressures up to 0.2 GPa of the density of expanded liquid mercury, and the electrical conductivity of liquid mercury and of certain amalgams, chiefly Hg-3 at.% In and Hg-1 to 3 at.% Na. The density of a 3 at.% In amalgam was also measured over the same pressure range to 1000 degrees C. The data lead to some discussion of the effect of the solute on compressibility, expansivity, volume and conductivity. The decrease of conductivity caused by Na at high mercury densities is shown to change to a large decrease near the metal-insulator transition density, though the mechanism remains obscure.