Thermodynamic properties of two metal-rich tantalum sulfides: Ta2S and Ta6S

The incongruent vaporization reactions of Ta₂S and Ta₆S have been investigated by mass-loss effusion in the temperature range 1576 to 1902 K. By extrapolation of P_S(obs) to equilibrium the enthalpies of the reactions $\text{3}\text{2}\text{Ta}{}_2\text{S(s)}\text{=}\text{1}\text{2}\text{Ta}{}_6\text{S(s) + S(g)}$ and Ta₆S = 6 Ta(s) + S(g) were found to be $\text{ΔH}{}^0{}_{298}\text{R}\text{= 53.0(0.3) · 10}{}^3\text{K}$ and $\text{ΔH}{}^0{}_{298}\text{R}\text{= 58.1(0.4) · 10}{}^3\text{K}$, respectively. Comparison between the above values, determined by a 2nd law treatment, and 3rd law values was used to derive fef (“free energy function”) values for Ta and S in the compounds. These postulated fef's, which apply only to the elements as present in the compounds measured, are compared to tabulated quantities for the pure solid elements to provide a criterion for 2nd and 3rd law evaluation.