3. Discussion of experimental results

Table 1 contains, for each element, the values of the resistivity ρ _s in the solid state just before melting, as well as the resistivity ρ _L in the liquid state as a function of temperature. For some metals numerous results have been published; only one of them was selected and then proposed in polynomial form as a function of temperature. It corresponds to the first reference in the last column, but where possible, other references have been cited. The temperature range explored, the accuracy of the measurements and the ratio of resistivities in the solid and liquid states, at the melting temperature, have also been presented in the table.

Apart from selenium and tellurium, which remain semiconducting in the liquid...