The triplet correlation function, g(3)(r, r'), was calculated for two
liquid metals. rubidium and germanium, both near their respective melt
ing points (373 K and 1250 K). The results have been obtained (i) from
a molecular dynamics study and (ii) using a numerical technique, whic
h is based on a formal density expansion of the triplet correlation fu
nction. Results of both methods are found to be in good agreement. In
a closer analysis of g(3)(r, r') in terms of angle distributions, it w
as found that in the case of germanium a tetragonal coordination is pr
eferred for triangle configurations with sides near to nearest neighbo
ur distance, whereas for rubidium rather close-packed structures are e
ncountered.