Thermodynamics of mercury vapours

A quantum statistical approach is used to give a unified treatment of the metal-nonmetal- and liquid-vapour-transitions in mercury. The limiting cases of the atomic vapour at low densities and the metallic fluid at high densities are included. A simple plasma model with only long range Coulomb forces has to be improved by considering also short range interactions. Estimates are given for the critical point of the liquid-gas phase transition, as well as for the Mott density indicating the metal-nonmetal transition. (orig.)