Expansion Pressures of Metallic Hydrogen and Deuterium

Abstract

FROM a recent calculation¹, it follows that the striking difference in properties between hydrogen and lithium is due to the great stability of the co-valent H–H link. Metallic hydrogen (the analogue of metallic lithium) would be formed from hydrogen atoms with an evolution of about 10 kcal. per gm. atom, but is only stable with respect to diatomic hydrogen molecules at pressures not less than 2.5 × 10⁵ atmospheres.