  Multifragmentation (MF) results from 1A GeV Au on C have been compared with
the Copenhagen statistical multifragmentation model (SMM). A large number of
observables, including the fragment charge yield distributions, fragment
multiplicity distributions, caloric curve, critical exponents, and the critical
scaling function are explored in this comparison. The nature of the phase
transition in SMM is studied as a function of the remnant mass and charge using
the microcanonical equation of state. For light remnants $A \leq $ 100,
backbending is observed indicating negative specific heat, while for $A \geq$
170 the effective latentheat approaches zero. Thus for heavier systems this
transition can be identified as a continuous thermal phase transition.
