A study on the correlations of supercritical temperature of fluid alkali metals based on the generalised van der Waals equation of state

The supercritical temperature, the inversion temperature and the critical compressibility factor of caesium, rubidium and potassium are correlated through the generalised van der Waals equation of state. This three-parameter equation differs from the known van der Waals equation of state by the introduction of a third parameter in the expression for molecular pressure. For caesium, rubidium and potassium, the ratios of the supercritical temperature to the inversion temperature are estimated. The results of estimation are in agreement with the results from other equations which are based on experimental data. It has been established that caesium, rubidium and potassium obey the single-parameter law of corresponding states with the ratio of the supercritical temperature to the inversion temperature as the thermodynamic similarity parameter. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.