Densities of liquid metals: calcium, strontium, barium

Abstract

Abstract We report a method of measuring the densities of liquids at intermediate temperatures which employs Archimedes' Principle in a two-sinker arrangement. This method is then used to measure the densities of pure liquid calcium, strontium, and barium. We find ρ(Ca) = 1.4931 − 1.37 × 10−4 T(°C) from 850 − 950°C, ρ(Sr) = 2.5547 − 2.83 × 10−4 T(°C) from 780 − 880°C, and ρ(Ba) = 3.5561 − 2.99 × 10−4 T(°C) from 730 − 830°C, where the units are gm/cm3. We use relations critical constants for these liquids to estimated dρ/dT, and compare these values of dρ/dT with those for other liquid metals; we also compare our results with recent x-ray diffraction data for these liquid metals.