The nature of the structure difference between light and heavy water and the origin of the solvent isotope effect—I

The observed differences in heat content, entropy and free energy of light and heavy liquid water can be calculated within experimental error from measured infrared frequencies, using a model for water with tetrahedral hydrogen bonding and treating the hindered rotations (librations) of the water molecules as three-dimensional isotropic harmonic oscillators. The origin of the solvent isotope effect for monatomic ions in light and heavy water is their effect on the structure difference between light and heavy water. The quantity Δθ = h Δν/k provides a measure of this structure difference, where Δν is ν−ν′, the difference in average values of the librational frequencies of H₂O and D₂O, and ν′=ν/1·3815. Differences in heat content, entropy and free energy for solution of monatomic ions in light and heavy water and individual ionic activity coefficients can be calculated from Δθ. Hydronium and hydroxide ions are also discussed.