VAPOR-LIQUID CRITICAL PROPERTIES OF ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS .1. AN INTRODUCTORY SURVEY

This review is an introductory survey of the vapor-liquid critical pro perties of pure substances. It will be followed by a series-of reviews on the critical properties of elements and compounds, each dealing wi th a well-defined group of substances in detail. The historical backgr ound of the vapor-liquid critical point is outlined, and this is follo wed by a discussion of the nature of the critical point and of the exp erimental methods used to determine critical temperatures, pressures, and volumes. The effect of impurities, including mercury, on the appar ent critical properties is examined. Many substances decompose at or n ear their critical point; methods designed to minimize this problem or procedures to allow for decomposition are presented. Finally, a class ification of methods, to be used in subsequent parts of this project, is given, and the accuracy and reproducibility of the results are disc ussed.