DISCUSSION OF RESULTS. 211 



Methyl alcohol, on the other hand, being less associated than water, 

 probably has the power to break down the ternary electrolytes into only two 

 ions, whereas the binary electrolytes are broken down into ions in both the 

 water and the alcohol. The increase in the temperature coefficients with 

 increase in dilution in aqueous solutions has been explained by Jones, 1 and 

 the same explanation doubtless holds for the increase in the temperature 

 coefficients with increase in dilution in the mixed solvents. In the mixed 

 solvents we probably have a sphere around the ions, which is composed of 

 molecules of both the pure solvents. The fact that such solvates are formed 

 in other solvents than water has been established by the work of Jones and 

 McMaster. 2 



The temperature coefficients of conductivity are a maximum in the 25 

 per cent and 50 per cent mixtures of water and the other solvents, as has al- 

 ready been pointed out. At first glance this seems to be a remarkable fact, 

 in view of the large amount of experimental evidence that has been furnished 

 by Jones and his co-workers upon the hydrate theory as proposed by Jones. 

 There seems to be but one explanation, viz, that in these particular mixtures 

 the most complex solvates are formed. These complex solvates change in 

 complexity more rapidly with change in temperature than the less complex 

 solvates, and, consequently, the temperature coefficients are a maximum. 

 The question, however, naturally arises, Why are the solvates more complex 

 in one mixture than in another? It will be observed that the maximum 

 temperature coefficients of conductivity in mixtures of methyl alcohol and 

 water are found, as a rule, in the 25 per cent mixtures; yet they also occur 

 in some cases in the 59 per cent mixtures. The maximum values of these 

 ternf .-ature coefficients of conductivity in mixtures of ethyl alcohol and water 

 occur most frequently in the 50 per cent mixture, although in some cases they 

 are found in the 25 per cent mixture. 



The maximum values of the temperature coefficients of conductivity in 

 mixtures of acetone and water are mainly in the 50 per cent mixture, a 

 few values occurring in the 75 per cent mixture. These facts are significant 

 when considered in the light of the degree of association of the solvents 

 involved, as shown by the table previously given. 



Acetone being the least associated of this group of solvents, we should ex- 

 pect its greatest action in diminishing the association of water to occur in 

 about the 75 per cent mixture, where the mass of the acetone is very great. 

 We should expect this effect to manifest itself in the smaller percentage mix- 

 tures, when mixtures with water, of more highly associated solvents than 

 acetone, are considered. A glance at the fluidity values shows that although 

 mixtures of methyl alcohol and water show a minimum in the 50 per cent 



'Amer. Chem. Journ., 35, 445 (1906). 2 Ibid., 35, 316 (1906). 



