Mixed alkali effect in sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate melt

Abstract

Density and electrical conductance measurements of 0.35[XNaNO3 + (1 − X)KNO3] + 0.65Na2S2O3•5H2O melt were made as functions of temperature and X. Molar volume, V, is found to be additive. The percent deviation of Vext (extrapolated V of the pure solute from the plot of V vs. total added alkali ion fraction) from Vcal (calculated V of the pure solute from its high temperature density data) increases monotonically as the amount of NaNO3 in the hydrate melt increases, thereby manifesting a "structure-forming" tendency of NaNO3. The non-Arrhenius temperature dependence of molar conductance, Λ is analyzed in terms of the Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher (VTF) equation. Mixed alkali effect (MAE) has been observed on Λ and T0 (ideal glass transition temperature). A competitive polarization model has been used to explain the MAE on Λ.