A Pedagogical Illustration of the Determination of the Nature and Strength of Bonds in Crystalline Compounds from X-ray Diffraction and Infrared Spectroscopy Studies

This article describes a method used to teach students how X-ray crystallography and infrared spectroscopy analysis can be used to obtain information about the nature and strength of the bonding in the crystalline compounds M^IM^III(SO₄)₂ (with M^I = K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺ and M^III = Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺). These sulfates form an isomorphic series. The influences of specific M^IM^III ions on the variation of the a and c parameters and on the position of IR absorption bands are described. Additionally, X-ray crystallography and infrared spectroscopy studies of the double sulfates M^IM^III(SO₄)₂ show students the existence of SO₄-M^III-SO₄]^– layers in the crystallized products; the covalent character of M^III-O attractions, which give cohesion in these layers; the existence of M^I layers between SO₄-M^III-SO₄]^– layers, and the electrovalent character of M^I-O interactions.