Predicting the gas-liquid critical point from the second virial coefficient

We show that whereas the critical point is very sensitive to the range of i nteraction, the second virial coefficient has a fairly constant value at th e critical temperature. This enables us to predict the critical temperature with fair accuracy. We discuss the connection between the second virial co efficient as a predictor for the critical temperature and the second virial coefficient as predictor in crystal growth as was proposed by George and W ilson [A. George and W. W. Wilson, Acta Crystallogr., Sec. D: Biol. Crystal logr. 50, 361 (1994)]. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606( 00)51212-4].