( 296 9 
where 7, represents the temperature, for which the maximum and 
the minimum of the isothermal coincide. Discussing the conditions 
of coexistence we have pointed out that the critical phenomena for 
a binary system, though they are different from those which oceur 
for a simple substance, yet in the case that the value of 7’. defined 
by the above equation is a minimum, differ so slightly from those 
for a simple substance that this equation has a sufficient degree of 
approximation for the determination of the critical phenomena as we 
may realize them experimentally. Also for a ternary system the 
critical phenomena will differ from those for a simple substance, 
and we may expect that the difference will even be more consider- 
able than in the case of a binary system. Yet also for a ternary 
system this difference will not be so great, that the conditions for 
the existence of a minimum value of << will differ sensibly from 
ery 
the conditions for the existence of the minimum critical temperature 
as it may be realized experimentally. 
In order to find this condition for a binary system I have investig- 
F Ay 
ated in what circumstances Er taken as a function of wv, Can assume 
x 
a minimum value, and so I have discussed the equation: 
Analogous to this we should have to discuss the following equa- 
tions in order to find this condition for a ternary system: 
Cry 
d 
and _"*—(), 
At present however I will foliow another way, which leads us 
more easily to our aim and which yields the results in such a 
manner that they may he better surveyed. 
If we write for a binary system: 
a, (lay + 2a,,«(1—e) + a, 2? ey 
b, (le)? + 26,, «(1—a) Hb, e? 
then the solution of the equation: 
(a,—A 6,) (1— 2)? + 2 (a,,—28,,) « (Le) + (a,—2 b,) a? = 0 
