A reexamination of the ice III/IX hydrogen bond ordering phase transition

Ice III is a hydrogen bond disordered crystal which when cooled 1 K / min or faster transforms to an antiferroelectric hydrogen bond ordered structure, ice IX. Throughout its region of stability, experiments indicate that the H bonds in ice III are, in fact, partially ordered, i.e., some proton arrangements are preferred. In addition, there has been evidence that the structure of ice IX retains some residual disorder after the transition. Diffraction experiments and calorimetry apparently conflict with regard to the degree of ordering at the ice III/IX transition. Mean field statistical mechanical theories have been used to link partial occupations from diffraction data with thermodynamics. In this work, we investigate the ice III/IX proton ordering phase transition using electronic density functional theory calculations for small unit cells, extended to simulate the phase transition in a large unit cell using graph invariants. In agreement with experiment, we observe partial ordering over a wide range of temperatures as ice III transforms to partially disordered ice IX, near 126 K, which becomes fully ordered at lower temperatures. We compare our results from full statistical mechanical simulations with mean field models, finding small errors for the low-temperature ice IX phase and much larger errors for the high-temperature ice III phase. The failure of mean field theories may explain the apparent conflict between diffraction experiments and calorimetry.     

Pyrolysis of hexachloroethane in the gas phase: Computer aided kinetic study

The pyrolysis of C₂Cl₆ has been studied between 652 and 735 K at pressures ranging from 19 to 50 torr. The observed total pressure- and Cl₂ pressure-time curves show S-shapes with an induction period depending on temperature and pressure. Further, the total pressure goes through a maximum to finally reach a lower constant value. These curves are explained in terms of a recently proposed reaction model using a parameter optimization computer program. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Fragmentation phase transition in atomic clusters II

We present a statistical fragmentation study of doubly charged alkali (Li, Na, K) and antimony clusters. The evaporation of one charged trimer is the most dominant decay channel (asymmetric fission) at low excitation energies. For small sodium clusters this was quite early found in molecular dynamical calculations by Landman et al. [1]. For doubly charged lithium clusters, we predict Li ₉ ⁺ to be the preferential dissociation channel. As already seen experimentally a more symmetric fission is found for doubly charged antimony clusters. This different behavior compared to the alkali metal clusters is in our model essentially due to a larger fissility of antimony. This is checked by repeating the calculations for Na ₅₂ ⁺⁺ with a bulk fissility parameter set artificially equal to the value of Sb.     

The enantiotropic phase transition of antimony(III) oxide

Pure cubic senarmontite and pure orthorhombic valentite were characterised by XRD and infrared absorption spectroscopy, these techniques were also used to characterise heat treated samples. Senarmontite was shown to be the stable low temperature polymorph and valentite the stable high temperature form. The application of classical thermodynamics indicated the transition temperature to be 923K. Valentite was shown to exist below 923K but heat treatment below this temperature caused the metastable valentite to revert to senarmontite. DTA of antimony(III) oxide gave a single sharp endothermic peak at 913K, independent of the crystal modification, thus indicating that melting and phase transition were inseparable thermal events.     

Thermosonimetry of the NBS—ICTA temperature standards

Thermosonimetry (TS) curves for the NBS—ICTA recommended DTA temperature standards (NBS standard references materials 759 and 760) are reported. These materials generally show two regions of TS activity. The first (lower temperature) region is associated with a variety of processes such as fluid inclusion release, grain boundary motions and microcrack propagation, whereas the second (higher temperature) region is associated with the polymorphic transformations. Incorporation of a DTA specimen holder assembly into the TS equipment has provided evidence that the temperatures of the peak TS activity in the transformation regions correspond to the extrapolated onset temperatures of the DTA peaks, suggesting that the polymorphic transformations provide these crystals with mechanisms for relief of mechanical strain.     

The pyrolysis of hexachloroethane

The thermal decomposition of hexachloroethane in the presence of chlorine has been studied over the temperature range 340-400°C and a pressure range of 0.5°2.5 atm. The rate of the unimolecular C? C bond spliting reaction can be described by the Arrhenius equation Comparison of these rate data with thermodynamic data suggests a combination rate for CCl₃ radicals which is consistent with earlier measurements.     

Solvent extraction separation of In/III/-Tl/III/ and Hg/II/-Cd/II/-Co/II/ with sulphoxides

Solvent extraction studies have been made on some metals: In/III/-Tl/III/ and Hg/II/-Cd/II/-Co/II/, from ammonium thiocyanate solutions by dialkyl sulphoxides. Separation of these metals from one another can be achieved by suitable choice of the extracted conditions. The nature of the extractable metal species has been elucidated.     

On the phase transition of acetylene-d2

The solid-solid phase transition of acetylene-d₂ at 149 ± 1 K was investigated using a thermal neutron powder diffraction technique. Due to a rapid recrystallization in the vicinity of the transition point the study of the kinetics of the transition was not successful.     

四氯合金属(II)酸烷铵在280-500K间的热力学性质和相变:III.四氯合镉(II)酸n-十二烷铵

在280-500K温度范围内用自动绝热量热计测量了(n-C~1~2H~2~5NH~3)~2CdCl~4的热容。在所研究的温度范围内发现一个固-固相转变, 其相变温度, 相变焓和相变熵分别为(332.4±0.1)K,(48.35±0.33)kJ.mol^-^1和(145.5±1.0)J.K^-^1.mol^-^1。结合已发表的(n-C~1~2H~2~5NH~3)~2MCl~4(M=Mn, Zn)的相变参数讨论了此类配合物的中心原子对其相变的影响。[MCl~4]^2^-配位方式的不同被认为是该类配合物的相变热参数产生差异的主要原因。     

Manganese(II/II/II) and Manganese(III/II/III) Trinuclear Compounds. Structure and Solid and Solution Behavior

Two mixed-valence Mn(III)Mn(II) complexes and a homo-valence Mn(II) trinuclear manganese complex of stoichiometry Mn(III)Mn(II)Mn(III)(5-Cl-Hsaladhp)(2)(AcO)(4)(MeOH)(2).4CH(3)OH (1a), Mn(III)Mn(II)Mn(III) (Hsaladhp)(2)(AcO)(2)(5-Cl-Sal)(2)(thf)(2) (3a) and Mn(II)Mn(II)Mn(II) (AcO)(6)(pybim)(2) (1b) where H(3)saladhp is a tridentate Schiff base ligand and pybim a neutral bidentate donor ligand, have been structurally characterized by using X-ray crystallography. The structurally characterized mixed-valence complexes have strictly 180 degrees Mn(III)-Mn(II)-Mn(III) angles as required by crystallographic inversion symmetry. The complexes are valence trapped with two terminal Mn(III) ions showing Jahn-Teller distortion along the acetate or salicylate-Mn(III)-X axis. The Mn.Mn separation is 3.511 ? and 3.507 ? respectively. The mixed-valence complexes have S = (3)/(2) ground state and the homovalence complex S = (5)/(2), with small antiferromagnetic exchange J couplings, -5.6 and -1.8 cm(-1), respectively, while the powder ESR spectra at 4 K show a broad low field signal with g approximately 4.3 for Mn(III)Mn(II)Mn(III) and a broad temperature-dependent signal at g = 2 for Mn(II)Mn(II)Mn(II). Crystal data for 1a: [C(36)H(60)O(20)N(2)Cl(2)Mn(3)], triclinic, space group P&onemacr;, a = 9.272(7) ?, b = 11.046(8) ?, c = 12.635(9) ?, alpha = 76.78(2) degrees, beta = 81.84(2) degrees, gamma = 85.90(2) degrees, Z = 1. Crystal data for 3a: [C(48)H(56)O(18)N(2)Cl(2)Mn(3)], monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 8.776(3) ?, b = 22.182(7) ?, c = 13.575(4) ?, beta = 94.44(1) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 1b: [C(36)H(36)O(12)N(6)Mn(3)], triclinic, space group P&onemacr;, a = 13.345(6) ?, b = 8.514(4) ?, c = 9.494(4) ?, alpha = 75.48(1) degrees, beta = 75.83(1) degrees, gamma = 76.42(1) degrees, Z = 1.     

The molten phase conductance and the thermotropic phase transition in lead(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) 10-hydroxyoctadecanoates

The electrical conductances and heats of phase changes in lead(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) 10-hydroxyoctadecanoates are measured. The soaps are prepared by metathesis in alcohol solution from 10-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid which in turn is prepared from the oxidation of cis-9-octadecenoic (oleic) acid with concentrated sulphuric acid.The Arrhenius plot for lead(II) 10-hydroxyoctadecanoate shows a maximum, a behaviour that had earlier been interpreted to be due to complex formation. A similar plot for zinc(II) 10-hydroxyoctadecanoate is linear while that for cadmium(II) 10-hydroxyoctadecanoate presents a discontinuity which is interpreted, with the aid of the differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) spectra and optical examination, to be suggestive of the formation of an intermediate phase between the solid and the liquid phases. The low conductances of the soaps in comparison with the literature data on some metal caboxylates indicate the existence of extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the molten phase. Both lead(II) and zinc(II) 10-hydroxyoctadecanoates melt directly from the solid to the liquid phase while their cadmium(II) counterpart passes through the gel-like phase before melting into the liquid. The mesophase of cadmium(II) 10-hydroxyoctadecanoate is transformed to the liquid phase with a relatively low enthalpy change and the behaviour is associated with the cylindrical micekkar structures of the liquid phase that have their formative stage from the gel-like mesophase.     

Stereochemistry and structural phase transition of Cu(II) complexes containing orthophosphate ions and pyridine/picoline

Copper complexes of the type Cu(L)₄(H₂PO₄)₂ designated as complex (I), and Cu(L)₄ HPO₄ designated as complex (II), (whereL = pyridine (py) or λ-picoline (pic)) have been synthesised, characterised by chemical analyses, IR, and electronic and magnetic susceptibility data. From ESR studies it is concluded that complexes (I) have elongatedtrans octahedral stereochemistry. The temperature dependence of the ESR spectrum of Cu(py)₄(H₂PO₄)₂ suggests a fluxional behaviour in the immediate coordination of Cu(II), whereas very little variation of the ESR spectrum of the Cu(pic)₄(H₂PO₄)₂ complex indicates that the stereochemistry of this complex is essentially static in nature. The differential scanning calorimetric studies in the case of Cu(py)₄(H₂PO₄)₂ complex have given clear evidence for the occurrence of a structural phase transition at 147 K. The absence of any abrupt changes in the ESR spectrum at that temperature excludes the possibility of any changes in the immediate environment of Cu(II).     

Novel mixed-valence manganese cluster with two distinct Mn3(II/III/II) and Mn3(III/II/III) trinuclear units in a pseudocubane-like arrangement

The reaction between Mn(ClO 4) 2 and di-(2-pyridyl)-ketone in the presence of the sodium salt of propanediol as a base in MeOH leads to the formation of a hexanuclear manganese cluster. This cluster has been characterized by the formula [Mn(II) 3Mn(III) 3O(OH)(CH 3pdol) 3(Hpdol) 3(pdol)](ClO 4) 4 ( 1). Molecular conductance measurements of a 10 (-3) M solution of compound 1 in CH 3CN, DMSO, or DMF give Lambda m = 529, 135, or 245 muS/cm, respectively, which suggests a 1:4 cation/anion electrolyte. The crystal structure of hexanuclear manganese cluster 1 consists of two distinct trinuclear units with a pseudocubane-like arrangement. The trinuclear units show two different valence distributions, Mn(II)/Mn(III)/Mn(II) and Mn(III)/Mn(II)/Mn(III). Additional features of interest for the compound include the fact that (a) two of the Mn(III) ions show a Jahn-Teller elongation, whereas the third ion shows a Jahn-Teller compression; (b) one bridge between Mn(III) atoms is an oxo (O (2-)) ion, whereas the bridge between Mn(II) and Mn(III) is a hydroxyl (OH (-)) group; and (c) the di-(2-pyridyl)-ketone ligand that is methanolyzed to methyl-Hpdol and R 2pdol (R = CH 3, H) acts in three different modes: methyl-pdol(-1), Hpdol(-1), and pdol(-2). For magnetic behavior, the general Hamiltonian formalism considers that (a) all of the interactions inside the two "cubanes" between Mn(II) and Mn(III) ions are equal to the J 1 constant, those between Mn(II) ions are equal to the J 2 constant, and those between the Mn(III) ions are equal to the J 3 constant and (b) the interaction between the two cubanes is equal to the J 4 constant. The fitting results are J 1 = J 2 = 0.7 cm (-1), J 3 approximately 0.0, J 4 = -6.2 cm (-1), and g = 2.0 (fixed). According to these results, the ground state is S = 1/2, and the next excited states are S = 3/2 and 5/2 at 0.7 and 1.8 cm (-1), respectively. The EPR spectra prove that the spin ground state at a low temperature is not purely S = 1/2 but is populated with the S = 3/2 state, which is in accordance with the susceptibility and magnetization measurements.     

Neutron structure of strontium pentacyanonitrosylferrate(II) tetrahydrate below the 153 K phase transition

The average structure in the space group C2/m at 130 K of strontium pentacyanonitrosylferrate(H) tetrahydrate (strontium nitroprusside tetrahydrate, Sr[Fe(CN)₅NO].4H₂O, space group P2/m, monoclinic, Z=4, a=19.816(24), b=7.563(7), c=8.406(9) Å, β=99.02°, V=1244(24) ų) has been determined using neutron diffraction. A final R factor 0.061 was obtained using 665 observed structure factors.When going from room temperature to 130 K the space group C2/m changes to P2/m. A rearrangement of hydrogen atoms is produced due to 14.3, 17.2, 5.9 and 26° rotations of the planes of W1, W2, W3 and W4 water molecules, respectively. As a consequence of this structural modification, the weakening of some hydrogen bonds related to the W4 molecule and the reinforcement of the hydrogen bonds of the W2 molecule along the [0 1 0] direction are observed.     

Two-phase coexisting state of n-hexatriacontane in the first-order phase transition

The small crystal of n-hexatriacontane was observed by a polarizing microscope in the rotator phase transition temperature region. In the temperature region, the rotator phase coexists with the solid phase (low-temperature ordered phase). The boundaries of two phases move reversibly with the temperature change. The area fractional change of the rotator phase can be described by the Debye relaxation. The relaxation time decreases and the relaxation strength increases as the sample temperature is raised. The relaxation time agrees well with that of the dynamic specific heat, which was measured in the frequency range of 0.0003≤f/Hz≤0.05.     

High-pressure phase transition in LiBH4

The high-pressure phase transition from ambient pressure α-LiBH₄ to high-pressure β-LiBH₄ was observed by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction between 0.8 and 1.1 GPa. The phase boundary between these two phases was mapped over a large range of temperatures using thermal conductivity studies and differential thermal analysis. The structure of the high-pressure phase could not be identified due to small number of experimentally observed reflections, but it was shown that it is different from previously reported theoretical predictions.     

Thermosonimetry and thermomicroscopy of the decomposition of NaClO4 and KClO4

Thermal decompositions of NaClO₄ and KClO₄ were followed by simultaneous TS-DTA and thermomicroscopy. For NaClO₄ TS curves corresponding to melting/decomposition and solidification of molten NaCl were found to consist of six peaks. During decomposition of KClO₄, three TS peaks appeared. The origin of these TS peaks is discussed on the basis of thermomicroscopic observations during which melting of the particles, evolution of bubbles of different sizes, formation of solid products of varied morphologies, vigorous vibration of these solids, and precipitation of NaCl or KCl were observed.