The International Temperature Scale of 1990 is described in Section 1 of this CRC Handbook, where the defining fixed points are listed. The Consultative Committee on Thermometry (CCT) of the International Committee on Weights and Measures (CIPM), which oversees the temperature scale, has recommended a number of secondary reference points whose values have been accurately determined with respect to the primary fixed points. The most accurate of these, referred to as “first quality points,” satisfy several criteria involving purity of the material, reproducibility, and documentation of the measurements. The CCT also lists “second quality points” that do not yet satisfy all the criteria but are still useful. Taken together, these secondary reference points, help fill in the gaps between the primary fixed points.
The table below describes these secondary reference points, along with the primary fixed points. Column definitions for the table are as follows.
Column heading | Definition |
Name | Name of substance |
Type of transition | Transition used as reference point |
T | Transition temperature, in K; entries are listed in order of increasing temperature |
t | Transition temperature, in °C |
Uncert. | Estimate of the uncertainty |
Note | Information on the quality of the reference point, see text above for discussion |
Full details are given in the reference.
Name | Formula | CAS Reg. No. | Type of transition | T/K | t/ºC | Uncert. | Note |
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Zinc | Zn | 7440-66-6 | Superconductive transition | 0.8500 | -272.3000 | 0.0030 | 1st Quality |
Aluminum | Al | 7429-90-5 | Superconductive transition | 1.1810 | -271.9690 | 0.0025 | 1st Quality |
Helium | He | 7440-59-7 | Superfluid transition (4He) | 2.1768 | -270.9732 | 0.0001 | 1st Quality |
Indium | In | 7440-74-6 | Superconductive transition | 3.4145 | -269.7355 | 0.0025 | 1st Quality |
Lead | Pb | 7439-92-1 | Superconductive transition | 7.1997 | -265.9503 | 0.0025 | 1st Quality |
Niobium | Nb | 7440-03-1 | Superconductive transition | 9.2880 | -263.8620 | 0.0025 | 1st Quality |
Hydrogen | H2 | 1333-74-0 | Triple point (equilibrium H2) | 13.8033 | -259.3467 | Primary | |
Hydrogen | H2 | 1333-74-0 | Triple point (normal H2) | 13.952 | -259.198 | 0.002 | 2nd Quality |
Hydrogen-d2 | D2 | 7782-39-0 | Triple point (equilibrium D2) | 18.689 | -254.461 | 0.001 | 1st Quality |
Hydrogen-d2 | D2 | 7782-39-0 | Triple point (normal D2) | 18.724 | -254.426 | 0.001 | 1st Quality |
Hydrogen | H2 | 1333-74-0 | Boiling point (normal H2) | 20.388 | -252.762 | 0.002 | 2nd Quality |
Oxygen | O2 | 7782-44-7 | α-β transition | 23.868 | -249.282 | 0.005 | 2nd Quality |
Neon | Ne | 7440-01-9 | Triple point (20Ne) | 24.541 | -248.609 | 0.001 | 1st Quality |
Neon | Ne | 7440-01-9 | Triple point (normal Ne) | 24.5561 | -248.5939 | Primary | |
Neon | Ne | 7440-01-9 | Boiling point | 27.097 | -246.053 | 0.001 | 1st Quality |
Nitrogen | N2 | 7727-37-9 | α-β transition | 35.614 | -237.536 | 0.006 | 2nd Quality |
Oxygen | O2 | 7782-44-7 | β-γ transition | 43.796 | -229.354 | 0.001 | 2nd Quality |
Oxygen | O2 | 7782-44-7 | Triple point | 54.3584 | -218.7916 | Primary | |
Nitrogen | N2 | 7727-37-9 | Triple point | 63.151 | -209.999 | 0.001 | 1st Quality |