( 624 ) 



rr .r,,db da 



MRT— — 



dx dx 



(v—b)* ~~ V 



If we now always take as second component that with the greatest 



db , . 



value of b, so that — is always positive, it appears from the given 



equation that the curve I — J = cannot possess points for these 



da 

 values of x, for which — is negative. Only at that value of x for 



dx 



which — = 0, this possibility begins, but then only if T = 0. If 



dx 



da 

 T has a definite value — must be positive, for points of this curve 



dx 



da db 



to be possible. For v = go, — must be =MRT—. And the value 



dx dx 



of x which satisfies this equation, indicates one asymptote of the 



discussed curve by a line // to the w-axis. If this asymptote has 



been drawn, we may think the mixtures with decreasing critical 



temperature to be placed on its left side. And on the right the 



mixtures with increasing critical temperature do not yet immediately 



follow. For a separation between the mixtures with decreasing and 



m da a <1h a 



those with increasing Ik, — must be = ; only when M HI = — 



dx b <hr b 



Tk would immediately ascend again on the right of this asymptote; 



but then T would have to be chosen so high, that it was a7 / 8 Tk, 



and for the present at least we shall choose T far below that limit, 



That the line x = c, where c has the value which follows from 



da db 



— = MRT — , is an asymptote, is seen when we think the equation 



</.t' dx 



da 



fdp\ t' 2 dx 



of the curve I — - = written as follows: rr — tt • As 



\dxj r (v — by db 



v /vl v ' MRT — 



dx 



da v 



the value ot — becomes larger from left to right, must increase 



dx v — b 



v 

 from left to right, or — decrease. For the value of x, following 



b 



da db v v 



from — = MRT — , — is infinite; for larger values of #, — decreases 

 dx dx o b 



