1881.] 



On the Limit of the Liquid State. 



521 



can be known, the capillary height of the liquid at various tempera- 

 tures was next determined. The capillary height becomes zero at the 

 critical temperature, and this is the case whether the pressure is the 

 critical pressure or a higher one. Curves indicating the loss of 

 capillarity with rise of temperature are given, and the observations 

 repeated at higher pressures, the pressures being obtained by com- 

 pressing hydrogen over the liquid. The surface tension is lowered a 

 little by the action of the compressed hydrogen, but the change of 



Fig. 1. 



capillarity follows that of the liquid alone very closely, and the 

 capillarity sinks to zero a few degrees below the critical temperature. 

 Nitrogen may be substituted for hydrogen with the same results, 

 and various other liquids being used — carbon bisulphide, carbon 

 tetrachloride, and methyl alcohol. Curves are given, showing their 

 behaviour under high pressures, as in the case of alcohol. In no 

 case could any of the properties of the liquid state be found to exist 

 above the critical temperature. The paper concludes : " Three 



