Thermal Capacity of Solid Nitrogen

The thermal capacity of solid nitrogen in the temperature range 2.6 to 15°K is investigated using an adiabatic calorimeter of original construction. The analysis of the results of this paper and the literature data on the thermal capacity allow information about the character of the rotational motion of the molecules in crystalline nitrogen to be obtained. The so‐called orientation defects give a considerable contribution to the thermal capacity near the temperature (35.6°K) of the phase transformation. In the high‐temperature β‐phase of solid nitrogen the practically free rotation of the molecule occurs.