Studies on the Thermodynamics and Conductances of Molten Salts and Their Mixtures: Part Iii. Densities, Molar Volumes, Viscosities, and Surface Tensions of Molten Lithium Chlorate, With Small Additions of Water, and Other Substances

The density (2.088 g ce−1) at 131.8 °C and viscosity (0.35 P at 131.8 °C) and their temperature dependence, of molten lithium chlorate, have been determined. Similar results have been obtained for lithium chlorate melts containing small quantities of water. The surface tension and its temperature dependence have been determined for lithium chlorate and for several lithium chlorate – water and lithium chlorate – lithium nitrate mixtures. From these measurements the surface heat has been calculated.The results for pure lithium chlorate indicate that the melt is complex, this complexity probably caused by association of some kind. This is especially evident just above the melting point, since there the temperature change in properties is greatest.Addition of water to the lithium chlorate melt causes the melt properties, especially the viscosity, to alter considerably. These changes are in part caused by a breakdown of the structural entities in the melt.