On the Compressibility of Soliits 



385 



nan glass found in January of this year, and the result is 

 that the absolute cubic compressibility of mercury at tem- 

 tures between i and 3 C. is 3-99. 



TABLE VII. Summary. 



\\ith regard to the metals quoted in the tables, the figures 

 speak for themselves. The number of different metals is very 

 small and, until the investigation has been extended so as to 

 include at least the greater number of the metals which can 

 be easily procured in the form of rod or wire, it is not likely 

 that any very general features or l.i\\^ will be apparent. It 

 will, however, be observed that in the case of the five metals 



1 as wire, their compressibility increases as their density and 

 their atomic weight diminish, yet there is no reason to suppose 

 the compressibility is a continuous function of the atomic 

 weight, like the specific heat. Mercury, although in tin- fused 

 state, shows this clearly. But besides this, it happens \ 

 two pairs out of the five metals, namely, pl.u mum-gold and 



ini urn-magnesium, are contiguous in the atomic wn 

 series, yet the compress bilitv of magnesium is. nm^hlv. 



i>le that of aluminium, md the compressibility of gol 

 h.tlf as mu< t of platinum If. however, 



compare gold and copper. \\hi-h occupy parallel position 

 Mendeleeffs scheme, we see tint th< -v .m very much ahk. 

 and the same holds with regard to magn< -mm and mercury 



B. III. 25 



