Dielectric Constant of Ethanol in the Neighborhood of the Critical Temperature

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Abstract
The dielectric constant of ethanol has been measured in the neighborhood of its critical temperature at different densities in the range 0.185 to 0.519 g/cc. Small amounts (2%—5%) of added water produce only a very small increase in the dielectric constant of ethanol at 245°C but a 10— to 20‐fold increase in the specific conductance. There is a slow but unimportant decomposition of the ethanol into H2+CH3CHO which is catalyzed by the Pt metal of the conductance cell. Comparisons of the data for ethanol are made with the Clausius—Mosotti—Debye equation and also with the Kirkwood equation for the molar polarization as a function of density. Comparisons of the data are also made with that for NH3 and H2O where a comparable temperature and density range have been covered.