The influence of interatomic forces on the structure of liquids: An experimental approach

Abstract

Some twenty years ago it was often remarked that the liquid structure factor S(k) and its Fourier transform g(r), were, for all liquid systems, essentially the same, and that by suitably choosing a hard-sphere diameter it would be possible to reproduce most of the experimental data. It is now known that, if S(k) or g(r) are known with sufficient accuracy, they do indeed reflect the characteristic interatomic force law for the liquid. This has become particularly clear for multicomponent systems, provided the analysis has been carried out at the partial structure-factor level. The above remarks are illustrated by reference to simple liquids, liquid semiconductors, molten salts, and aqueous solutions. In each case it is shown that the structural parameters reflect, and give further insight into, the nature of the interatomic forces.