Recommended Specific Heat Capacity Functions of Group VA Elements

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of representing specific heat capacities of the three metals comprising Group VA of the periodic table: vanadium, niobium and tantalum, with polynomials, from ambient temperature to close to their melting point temperatures. The analysis was based on available literature data including experimental studies of these metals at the Thermophysical Properties Laboratory of the ‘‘Vincˇa’’ Institute using millisecond resolution pulse calorimetry. This work has resulted in recommended functions obtained by analysis of existing experimental data. A critical analysis of methods used in obtaining these data, pointing to possible inherent sources of systematic errors that might influence their reliability, resulted in preferential weights of different data sets. Possible use of these three metals as candidates for specific heat capacity standard reference materials is also discussed.