Raman and infrared spectroscopic investigation of contact ion pair formation in aqueous cadmium sulfate solutions

Raman and IR data for aqueous CdSO₄ and (NH₄)₂SO₄ solutions have been recorded over broad concentration and temperature ranges. Whereas the v₁-SO ₄ ^2– band profile is symmetrical in (NH₄)₂SO₄ solutions, in CdSO₄ solutions a shoulder appears on the high frequency side which increases in intensity with increasing concentration and temperature. The molar scattering coefficient of the v₁-SO ₄ ^2– band is the same for all forms of sulfate in (NH₄)₂SO₄ and CdSO₄ solutions and is independent of temperature up to 99°C. The high frequency shoulder is attributed to the formation of a contact ion pair Cd²⁺OSO ₃ ^2– ] (11 associate). Also the v₃-SO ₄ ^2– antisymmetric stretching mode shows a splitting in the CdSO₄ solution. Further spectroscopic evidence for contact ion pair formation is provided by IR spectroscopy. No higher associates or anionic complexes are required to interpret the spectroscopic data. The degree of association has been measured as a function of concentration and temperature. The thermodynamic association constant, K_A=0.15±0.05 kg-mol^–1 at 25°C is estimated from the Raman data by an extrapolation procedure by taking account of the activity coefficients. Values are reported for the activity coefficient of the ion pair. From the Raman temperature dependence studies, the enthalpy of formation for the contact ion pair is estimated to be 10±1 kJ-mol^–1.