Self-Diffusion of Liquid Sodium

Abstract

The self-diffusion of liquid sodium in the temperature range, 98° to 226°, has been studied by the capillary reservoir technique. The data fit the empirical equation, D=1.10×10—3 exp (—2430/RT). The Stokes-Einstein equation gives a good correlation of the self-diffusion and viscosity data. The difference in the self-diffusion coefficients of the solid and liquid sodium is explained in terms of the ``relaxation'' theory of diffusion proposed by Nachtrieb and Handler.