Heats of melting of sodium nitrate and indium by differential scanning calorimetry: a suggestion for a new calibration substance

Measurments with a Perkin-Elmer DSC-2 differential scanning calorimeter that has been calibrated with indium, tin, and lead have yielded values for the heat of melting of sodium nitrate. Analysis of these results along with those from earlier investigations gives ΔH_m ? 3615 cal mol^?1 as a recommended “best” value for the heat of melting of NaNO₃. The consistency of our results over a period of three years in which many samples were investigated, in combination with results of earlier investigations, leads us to suggest that NaNO₃ is a useful substance for calibration of differential scanning calorimeters. Results of our measurements of the heat of melting of indium are presented and discussed in relation to earlier investigations.