Coordination of ions in aqueous solutions of samarium chloride from X-ray diffraction data

The radial distribution functions for aqueous solutions of samarium chloride over a broad concentration range under standard conditions, obtained previously by X-ray diffraction, were used to develop various physically substantiated models for structural organization of the systems. The optimal versions were identified by calculating the theoretical functions for each model and comparing their agreement with experimental functions. The quantitative characteristics of the local environment of Sm³⁺ and Cl^– ions such as coordination numbers, interparticle distances, and sorts of ion pairs were established. The average number of water molecules in the first coordination sphere of the cation was found to decrease from 9 to 6 with increasing concentration. The structure of the systems is determined by solvent-separated ion associates over the whole concentration range.