On the effect of 4f electrons on the structural characteristics of lanthanide trihalides: computational and electron diffraction study of dysprosium trichloride

The molecular and electronic structure of dysprosium trichloride, DyCl(3), was calculated by high-level quantum chemical methods in order to learn about the effect of the partially filled 4f subshell and of the possible spin-orbit coupling on them. High-temperature electron diffraction studies of DyCl(3) were also carried out so that we could compare the computed geometry with the experimental one, after thermal corrections on the latter. Dysprosium monochloride, DyCl, and the dimer of dysprosium trichloride, Dy(2)Cl(6), were also investigated by computation. We found that the electron configuration of the 4f subshell does not influence the geometry of the trichloride monomer molecule as the ground state and first excited state molecules have the same geometry. Nonetheless, taking the 4f electrons into account in the calculation, together with the 5s and 5p electrons, is important in order to get geometrical parameters consistent with the results from experiment. Based on electron diffraction and different levels of computation, the suggested equilibrium bond length (r(e)) of DyCl(3) is 2.443(14) A, while the thermal average distance (r(g)) from electron diffraction is 2.459(11) A. The molecule is trigonal planar in equilibrium. Although the ground electronic state splits due to spin-orbit coupling, the lowering of the total electronic energy is very small (about 0.025 hartree) and the geometrical parameters are not affected. In contrast with the monomeric trichloride molecule, the bond angles of the dimer seem to be different for different electronic states, indicating the influence of the 4f electronic configuration on their structure. We carried out an anharmonic analysis of the out-of-plane vibration of the trichloride monomer and found that the vibration is considerably anharmonic at 39.5 cm(-1), compared with the 30.5 cm(-1) harmonic value.     

Solute-Solvent interactions in water-rich mixtures. II. Ionic conductances in water-dimethylsulfoxide mixtures at 25°C

Conductances of sodium bromide, iodide, and perchlorate, potassium chloride, and tetraphenylboride (BPh ₄ ^– ) as well as triisoamyl-n-butylammonium iodide (i-Am₃BuNI) have been measured in aqueous mixtures containing up to 20 mole percent dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at 25°C. Experimental data were analyzed by the 1965 Fuoss-Onsager-Skinner (FOS) equation. Single-ion limiting equivalent conductances were calculated by assuming that ₀ (i–Am ₃ BuN ⁺=₀ (BPh ₄ ^– ). The variations of the limiting ionic Walden products are discussed on the basis of acid-base type interactions for cations, and on the basis of structural effects for anions.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of 4,4′-bipyridinium and 2,2′-bipyridinium pentachloro complexes containing the polynuclear anions [Bi2Cl10]4− and [Bi4Cl20]8−

The compounds 4,4-bipyridinium(2+) pentachloro-bismuthate(III) (1), [4,4-(C₁₀H₈N₂)BiCl₅] and 2,2-bipyridinium(2+) pentachloro-bismuthate(III) (2), [2,2-(C₁₀H₈N₂)Bi₂Cl₁₀] have been obtained by reacting bismuthate oxide and 4,4-bipyridine or 2,2-bipyridine in HCl acid medium. They have been characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. (1) crystallizes in the triclinic space group with a = 9.776(2), b = 11.009(3),c = 8.346(1) Å, = 101.58(2), = 98.63(2), and = 112.86(2)°. (2) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 14.239(2), b = 14.226(2), c = 16.275(3) Å, and = 110.15(2)°. The crystal structure of (1) consists of 4,4-bipyridinium(2+) cations interacting through hydrogen bonding with [Bi₂Cl₁₀]^2– dimers giving rise to endless double chains, while that of (2) is formed by 2,2-bipyridinium(2+) cations and [Bi₄Cl₂₀]^8– tetramers extensively interacting through hydrogen bonding. The different polynuclearity of the anions seems related to the different directions along which each cation can form hydrogen bond interactions.     

Direct determination of adsorption heats

Energy changes occurring during adsorption in gas-solid and solution-solid systems are considered in connection with measurement of the adsorption enthalpies. Some experimental apparatuses allowing determination both of heat evolved and adsorbed amounts are described, with special regard to those using heat-flow microcalorimeters. Calibration techniques and experimental data reliability are also discussed.