380 PROPERTIES OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING SYSTEMS 



rated solution of sodium in ammonia 6a is 1.1 X 10 6 The atomic con- 

 ductance of metallic sodium at room temperatures is 5.05 X 10 6 . The 

 conductance of the saturated solution is therefore comparable with that 

 of the pure metal. Values of the atomic conductance of other metals will 

 be found in Table CLIII of the next chapter. The atomic conductance of 

 sodium solutions is about the same as that of osmium and tin and much 

 greater than that of mercury (liquid) and bismuth. 



400 



0,0 



3.0 



4.0 



2.0 



Log V. 



FIG. 67. Conductance of Dilute Solutions of Potassium , and Lithium and of Mix- 

 tures of Sodium and Potassium in Liquid Ammonia at 33.5. 



The view was expressed, above, that the negative carrier for dif- 

 ferent metals dissolved in liquid ammonia is the same and is, in fact, the 

 negative electron, which carrier presumably effects the passage of the 

 current through all metallic substances. If this view is correct, then, at 

 higher concentrations, where the conductance of the solution is due 

 almost entirely to the negative electron, solutions of different metals in 

 ammonia should exhibit very nearly the same properties. It is to be 



This is based on the value 0.54 for the density of the saturated solution as deter- 

 mined approximately by Dr. Lucasse in the Author's Laboratory. This value may be in 

 error by several per cent. 



