Isotopic abundance measurements on solid nuclear-type samples by glow discharge mass spectrometry

A double-focusing Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometer (GDMS) installed in a glovebox for nuclear sample screening has been employed for isotopic measurements. Isotopic compositions of zirconium, silicon, lithium, boron, uranium and plutonium which are elements of nuclear concern have been determined. Interferences arising from the matrix sample and the discharge gas (Ar) for each of these elements are discussed. The GDMS results are compared with those from Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS). For boron and lithium at g/g-ng/g levels, the two methods gave results in good agreement. In samples containing uranium the isotopic composition obtained by GDMS was in agreement with those from TIMS independently of the enrichment. Attempts for the determination of plutonium isotopic composition were also made. In this case, due to the interferences of uranium at mass 238 and americium at mass 241, the GDMS raw data are complementary with those values obtained from physical non-destructive techniques.     

The solution structure and reactivity of decavanadate

The oxygen-exchange reaction of V₁₀O with bulk water has been followed by time-dependent ¹⁷O-NMR spectroscopy (buffered solutions, pH ～ 5.5, [V₁₀]_total ～ 0.17m, T = 298 K). It is shown that all seven structurally different sites of O-atoms are kinetically similar but, in contrast to earlier studies, not identical (6 h ? ‘t_1/2’ ? 11 h). The kinetic similarity of the various structural sites implies the some (but not full) O scrambling is involved. Two possible mechanisms with a ‘half-bonded’ and an ‘open’ intermediate are discussed in detail to interpret the experimental results. A computer simulation of the exchange reaction based on these models is presented. It is shown that the ‘half-bonded-intermediate’ mechanism is consistent with the experimental data and the following parameters are calculated: formation of the intermediate: k₁ = 5.8 · 10^?3 s^?1, k_?1 = 6.7 · 10^?2 s^?1, [intermediate]_∞ ≈ 8%; all activated O-atoms exchange within the lifetime of the intermediate (τ ～ 15 s), and the calculated exchange rate of the intermediate (k₂ ? 0.60 s^?1) is consistent with earlier assumptions (k₂ ≈ 0.5 s^?1). It is shown that a simulation based on the ‘open-intermediate’ mechanism results in kinetic parameters which are not consistent with the kinetics of the formation of cyclic metavanadates ((VO)_n, n = 4,5) from decavanadate, since the required formation rate is by a factor ～ 10² too fast, and the equilibrium concentration of metavanadates is by a factor of ～ 2 too large (under the conditions of the O-exchange experiments of decavanadate (T = 298 K, [V₁₀]_total ≈ 0.17m, pH ～ 5.55) the total amount of metavanadates present is ～ 8%, with [(VO)₄]/[(VO)₅] ～ 4:1; a qualitative analysis of the kinetics of the formation of metavanadates (v_o kinetics; the exact mechanism of the back-reaction (at least second-order) is not known with certainty) leads to k₁ ? 4·10^?5 s^?1). O exchange of decavanadates via equilibrated metavanadates would lead to full scrambling of the O sites and is not consistent with the observed differences in the exchange rates. From the qualitative kinetic parameters of the metavanadate formation kinetics, it can be concluded that any contribution of an ‘open’ or an ‘metavanadate’ mechanism is of the order of 1–2% at most.     

Goldstone mode singularities and equation of state of an isotropic magnet

Static properties of an isotropic magnet are calculated in the whole critical region including the magnetization curve. The method proposed is a resummation of renormalized perturbation theory without use of recursion relations. This is possible because only special diagrams or subdiagrams show infrared divergencies at the magnetization curve due to Goldstone modes. The arguments given are heavily based on Ward identities. The resulting perturbation theory is well behaved in the total critical region and exhibits explicitely the form of the Goldstone mode singularities at the magnetization curve. The equation of state is calculated including two-loop contribution. Resulting effective exponents are then correct in order in the whole critical region. In various limits agreement with known results is found. A one-loop calculation of the correlation functions is also given.     

Combined electron diffraction,conformational energy and vibrational investigations of cis-1,4-ditertiary butyl-cyclohexane

The structure of cis-1,4-ditertiarybutylcyclohexane(DTBC) was investigated by combined electron diffraction, conformational and vibrational analyses in order to obtain results which are more conclusive than those previously obtained by electron diffraction alone. In this study, first the minimum energy conformations for DTBC were calculated by the Westheimer-Hendrickson procedure using various force fields described in the literature; the same fields and the minimum energy conformations were used in subsequent vibrational analyses to calculate the mean amplitudes of vibration for each minimum energy conformation of DTBC; these mean amplitudes and the corresponding internuclear distances were then used to calculate the theoretical electron diffraction radial distribution curves which were compared to the experimental curves. The results indicate that the conformational energies of all the minimum energy chair and non-chair forms of DTBC are very similar. In excellent agreement with this, the theoretical radial distribution curves of all minimum energy forms have to be mixed for a best fit to the experimental radial distribution curve. A least squares analysis of the mixture under the described conditions yields for 110 °C a composition of approximately one third chair and two thirds non-chair forms. The quality of the empirical conformational force fields has a definite influence on the reliability of these results.     

Untersuchungen zur elektrochemischen Simultanbestimmung von Blei und Zinn

Zusammenfassung Die starke Temperaturabhängigkeit des polarographischen Zinn(II/0)-Signals in Lösungen des vierwertigen Zinns ermöglicht bei –32° C in methanolischer salzsaurer Grundlösung die Bestimmung des Bleis neben hohem Zinnüberschuß. Eine Anwendung des Verfahrens zur wechselstrompolarographischen Bestimmung des Bleis in Rohzinn wird beschrieben.

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Investigations on the simultaneous electrochemical determination of lead and tinII. Polarographic determination of lead in the presence of tin at lower temperatures

Summary The strong temperature dependence of the polarographic tin(II/0) signal in solutions containing tin(IV) renders possible the determination of lead in the presence of a high excess of tin at working temperatures of –32° C in hydrochloric methanol as supporting electrolyte solution. An application of the procedure to the ac-polarographic determination of lead in crude tin is described.

Die vorliegende Arbeit wurde in dankenswerter Weise durch Mittel der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft und des Verbandes der Chemischen Industrie ermöglicht.     

A Variable-Pressure 2D 1H-NMR Study of the Mechanism of Trimethyl Phosphate Intermolecular Exchange and cis/trains-Isomerisation of Tetrachlorobis(trimethyl phosphate)zirconium(IV)

In chloroform, [ZrCl₄·2(MeO)₃PO] exists in both cis- and trans-isomeric forms. Three reactions can be envisaged in the presence of excess (MeO)₃PO = L: (1) cis-[ZrCl₄·2L] + *L?cis-[ZrCl₄·L*L]+ L; (2) trans-[ZrCl₄·2L] + *L ? trans-[ZrCl₄·L*L] + L; (3) cis-[ZrCl₄·2L]? trans-[ZrCl₄·2L]. To distinguish between these possible reaction pathways, we have used 2D ₁H-NMR spectroscopy. For the first time, variable-pressure 2D exchange spectra were used for mechanistic assignments. cis/trans-Isomerisation was found to be the fastest reaction (in CHCl₃/CDCl₃), with a small acceleration at higher pressure: it is concluded to be an intramolecular process with a slightly contracted six-coordinate transition state. The intermolecular (MeO)₃PO exchange on the cis- and trans-isomer are second-order processes and are strongly accelerated by increased pressure: I_a mechanisms are suggested without ruling out limiting A mechanisms.     

Gasförmige Acetate

Gaseous Acetates Thermoanalytical and mass-spectrometrical observations are undertaken with some acetates and oxiacetates. The volatilization of copper(I) acetate takes place like that of the silver acetate as M₂Ac₂⁺ (besides the deposition of Ag). On the volatilization of the anhydrous compounds Cu₂Ac₄, Cr₂Ac₄, Rh₂Ac₄, and Mo₂Ac₄ in the vacuum of a mass spectrometer is observed that Cu₂Ac₄ vaporizes dissociative as Cu₂Ac₂⁺ (+ 2 “Ac”), while the other compounds vaporize as M₂Ac₄⁺ and simultaneously is formed an oxidic (e.g. Cr₂O₄) or metallic residue. PdAc₂ vaporizes in the mass spectrometer as a trimeric molecule Pd₃Ac₆. M₄OAc₆, which is formed from the dihydrates, vaporizes in a mass spectrometer with M ? Co, Mn as M₄OAc₆⁺. Other complexes of the same type appear as Be₄OAc₅⁺, Mg₄OAc₅⁺, and Zn₄OAc₅⁺.     

Vibrational structure of endohedral fullerene Sc3N@C78 (D3h'): evidence for a strong coupling between the Sc3N cluster and C78 cage.

The vibrational structure of the endohedral cluster fullerene Sc(3)N@C(78) is studied by FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and DFT-based quantum chemical calculations. Remarkably good agreement between experimental and calculated spectra is achieved and a full assignment of the Sc(3)N-based vibrational modes is given. Significant differences in the vibrational structure of the endohedral cluster fullerene Sc(3)N@C(78) and the empty, charged C(78) (6-): 5 (D(3h)') are rationalized by the strong coupling between the Sc(3)N cluster and the fullerene cage. This coupling has its origin in a significant overlap of the Sc(3)N and C(78) molecular orbitals, and causes atomic-charge and bond-length redistributions compared to the neutral C(78) and the C(78) (6-) anion. An ionic model is not sufficient to describe the electronic, geometric and vibrational structure of the Sc(3)N@C(78) nitride cluster fullerene.