Chemistry Nexus

by WebElements: the periodic table on the web

Cold working of sodium metal converts body centred sodium metal to a mixture of a hexagonal form and body centred sodium at 5 K. The hexagonal from converts back to the body-centred form at 100-100 K.Cold working of lithium metal converts body centred lithium metal to a mixture of a hexagonal form and body centred lithium at 78 K.

Potassium, rubidium, and caesium retain their body centred structure after cooling.1

References

1. Barrett, C. S. 1956. “X-ray study of the alkali metals at low temperatures“, Acts Crystallographica, 1956, 9, 671-677, http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S0365110X56001790.

December 24th, 2009

Posted In: Chemistry, Crystallography, Group 1 elements

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