Thermoelectric Power of Single Crystal Bismuth Near the Melting Point

By investigating directly the thermoelectric power of bismuth single crystals near the melting point a transition region is found in which the thermoelectric power changes gradually from that characteristic of the solid to that characteristic of the final liquid state. The region extends from the melting point to about 8^∘{} above it. As an explanation it is supposed that a definite crystal structure persists into the liquid state.