The Effect of Temperature on the Atomic Distribution in Liquid Sodium

X-ray diffraction patterns of liquid sodium at eight temperatures ranging from 100^ to 400^ have been obtained with monochromatic Mo K radiation. Fourier analyses of the 100^ and the 400^ intensity curves were made in order to obtain the atomic distribution functions. The distribution function at 400^ shows that at this temperature, the first concentration of atoms about any atom occurs at a distance of 3. 90 A and the second concentration of atoms occurs at about 7. 2A. The peaks in this curve are broader, and the curve approaches the average density more rapidly, than in the 100^ case. For sodium at 100^, the distance of closest approach of the atoms is 3. 83A.