How anomalous are the anomalous properties of fluorine? Ionization energy and electron affinity revisited

It is well established that atomic fluorine has a miserly high ionization energy and avariciously high electron affinity. Yet, as was shown some 30 years ago, the latter value is anomalously low-linear extrapolation shows the value to be some 110 kJ/mol less than expected by comparison to the heavier halogens. Related literature investigation extended this anomaly to nitrogen and oxygen and their (valence) isoelectronic congeners. We extend it to related cationic species and thereby the noble gases and alkali metals, and the aforementioned species are better understood. We thus ask if the ionization energy/electron affinity anomaly of fluorine remains an anomaly.     

Determination of Non-metals by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Inductively Coupled Plasma Detection

Abstract

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has often been employed in the separation and speciation of metal containing compounds. One of the most sensitive devices used for detecting those compounds after the separation is the inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The similar flow rates for these two techniques render the coupling of the devices trivial, usually involving only a short length of capillary tubing. Upon entering the plasma, species are typically determined either via atomic emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry. HPLC-ICP devices have been employed less frequently for the determination of non-metals. This review will describe the applications of HPLC-ICP techniques to the determination of compounds containing carbon, sulfur, phosphorus, and the halogens. The instrumentation used for each application will be described, and the performance of the systems will be summarized.     

Wastes Treatment: Hydrothermal electrolytic oxidation of wastewater

Abstract

Electrochemical evolution of hydrogen gas, oxygen gas and chlorine at the electrodes is the usual reaction in conventional electrolysis of aqueous salt solution. However, here we demonstrate that the electrolysis governing reaction in hydrothermal solutions is different from the electrolysis performed at atmospheric pressure and temperatures up to 100°C. Experimental electrolytic reaction of aqueous salt solution carried out inside a sealed 300-mL batch autoclave showed that; accumulation of hydrogen gas, oxygen gas and chlorine is highly suppressed under hydrothermal (250°C and 7 MPa) conditions. We have also observed that, when organics are present in the aqueous salt solution being hydrothermally electrolyzed, an effective oxidation of organics is accomplished. Furthermore, for hydrothermal electrolytic oxidation (HEO) with oxygen gas added, experimentally observed TOC removal profile demonstrates apparent anodic oxidation electrical current efficiency of almost 200% for highconcentrated acetic acid solutions.     

Ionization of Ozone/Chlorofluorocarbon Mixtures in Atmospheric Gases: Formation and Dissociation of [CHX2O3]+ Complexes (X=Cl,F)

Complexes that undergo extensive molecular reorganization upon unimolecular metastable dissociation are obtained after ionization of atmospheric gases containing ozone and chlorofluorocarbons [Eq. (1)]. These unusual processes, which require fission of all bonds initially present in the CHX₂ unit (X=Cl, F) and combination of C with one of the O atoms of ozone, were demonstrated and their mechanism rationalized by the joint application of mass spectrometric and theoretical methods.     

Determination of phosphorus, sulfur and the halogens using high-temperature molecular absorption spectrometry in flames and furnaces—A review

The literature about the investigation of molecular spectra of phosphorus, sulfur and the halogens in flames and furnaces, and the use of these spectra for the determination of these non-metals has been reviewed. Most of the investigations were carried out using conventional atomic absorption spectrometers, and there were in essence two different approaches. In the first one, dual-channel spectrometers with a hydrogen or deuterium lamp were used, applying the two-line method for background correction; in the second one, a line source was used that emitted an atomic line, which overlapped with the molecular spectrum. The first approach had the advantage that any spectral interval could be accessed, but it was susceptible to spectral interference; the second one had the advantage that the conventional background correction systems could be used to minimize spectral interferences, but had the problem that an atomic line had to be found, which was overlapping sufficiently well with the maximum of the molecular absorption spectrum. More recently a variety of molecular absorption spectra were investigated using a low-resolution polychromator with a CCD array detector, but no attempt was made to use this approach for quantitative determination of non-metals. The recent introduction and commercial availability of high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometers is offering completely new possibilities for molecular absorption spectrometry and its use for the determination of non-metals. The use of a high-intensity continuum source together with a high-resolution spectrometer and a CCD array detector makes possible selecting the optimum wavelength for the determination and to exclude most spectral interferences.     

Comparative study of kinetics isomerization of substituted polyacetylene (Cl,F and I): Ab initio and DFT calculations

Ab initio and DFT methods were used to investigate the interconversions of substituted polyacetylene conformers C₁₀H₆X₆ (X=F, Cl and I) in the vapour phase. The rates of this geometrical isomerization have been calculated and the Arrhenius parameters evaluated. In the case of unsubstituted polyacetylene as the reference, the B3LYP Arrhenius parameters obtained are A₁=2.99 × 10¹⁷ s^–1 and E_a=17.30 kcal mol^–1. The values of the equilibrium constant for the reaction have also been determined at various temperatures between 300 and 500 K and the value of the energies change calculated. The results also suggest that the straightforward kinetics characterizing the majority of substituted polyacetylene isomerizations above 300 K. The isomerization energies are positive and the barrier heights ΔE_barrier are expected to be sensitive for the magnitude of halogens effects. According to geometries features the Cis → Trans isomerization in the gas phase occurs by a rotational mechanism.     

A comparison of the solid-state structures of a series of phenylseleno-halogen and pseudohalogen compounds,PhSeX (X = Cl,CN, SCN)

Structural and spectroscopic data on the series of compounds “PhSeX”, where X = Cl, CN or SCN, are reported and compared with previously reported data on “PhSeX” systems (X = Br and I). The chloro-compound displays a “square” motif, Ph₄Se₄Cl₄, in the solid state, linked by long Se–Se bonds [2.993(3)–3.035(3) Å], and forms a loosely held network of Se₄ and Cl₄ squares in its extended structure. In contrast, the pseudohalogen derivatives, PhSeCN and PhSeSCN, consist of essentially monomeric units, which form chains held together by weak Se?N interactions in the solid state. These Se?N interactions are much shorter in PhSeCN, 3.023(3)–3.065(4) Å, than in PhSeSCN, 3.348(4) Å. Weaker Se?N contacts are also present between the chains. The structure of PhSeSCN described here is the first reported crystallographic study of a selenium thiocyanate compound. Spectroscopic studies suggest that all three compounds exist as monomers in solution. The results reported herein illustrate the subtle differences in the solid-state structures of PhSeX compounds.     

Determination of trace halogens in rock samples by radiochemical neutron activation analysis coupled with the k0-standardization method

Radiochemical neutron activation analysis coupled with the k₀-standardization method (k₀-RNAA method) was applied to silicate rock samples for the simultaneous determination of trace halogens (Cl, Br and I). Analytical results obtained by the k₀-RNAA method for geological standard rocks and meteorite samples agreed with those determined by the conventional comparison method conducted in the same set of experiments, suggesting that the k₀-RNAA method is as reliable as the conventional method. Our data for these samples are in good agreement with their literature values except for rare cases. Detection limits calculated under the present experimental condition are sufficiently low for Cl and Br but not for I for typical geologic and meteoritic samples. The k₀-RNAA method coupled with longer neutron-irradiation is expected to yield satisfactorily low detection limits for halogens including I in these samples.     

A New Method of the Preparation of Imido‐bis(sulfuric acid) Dihalogenide, (F,Cl), and the Potassium Salt of Imido‐bis(sulfuric acid) Difluoride

The article describes a new and effective synthesis of pure imido‐bis(sulfuric acid) dihalogenides (halogenide = F, Cl) and the potassium salt of imido‐bis(sulfuric acid) difluoride, KN(SO₂F)₂.     

New near-infrared LIBS detection technique for sulfur

Sulfur has been detected in a spectral window (around 868 nm) previously unexplored by laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS), using an ablation laser with an ultraviolet wavelength, a gated detector, and inert ambient gas at a low, controlled pressure. This spectral window enables new-generation gated iCCD cameras to be used, which have adequate quantum efficiencies up to 900 nm. Application of our technique can substantially improve signal strength and thus extends the ability of LIBS to detect many nonmetallic elements.