The density and surface tension of liquid lithium at melting temperature

The density and surface tension of liquid lithium at the melting temperature, which are key quantities in the physics of condensed state were investigated. The experiments involved the use of Grade LE-1 lithium, which was subjected to vacuum distillation for many hours at a temperature of δ1000 K and vacuum of 1×106 mm Hg. After being thus purified, lithium was collected in a metal ampoule terminating in a capillary tube whose inlet opening was closed by a needle gate.Chemical analysis of distilled lithium performed in a specialized chemical-analytical laboratory revealed that the overall content of metallic and gas impurities in lithium did not exceed 0.10% by mass. The temperature of the instrument decreased to δ445 K, and it was sealed off from the high-vacuum evacuation post and transferred to an air thermostat, where the final adjustment of substrate with droplet was performed. The density and surface tension of lithium in the molten state at the experimental temperature were calculated with confidence error of 0.2 and 1.2%, respectively.