Proton relaxation times in 7LiCl and 6LiCl solutions

Measurements of the proton spin-lattice relaxation times have been made as a function of concentration and temperature in aqueous solutions of ⁷LiCl and ⁶LiCl. The difference in the relaxation times for two isotopic solutions of the same concentration and temperature is small, corresponding to a difference n reciprocal relaxation times of 0·004 sec^-1. c at 25°c, where c is the molarity of the solutions. This value decreases with increasing temperature. It is shown that the difference in relaxation times arises solely from the magnetic dipole interaction between the ⁷Li ion nucleus and water protons. The concept of a long-lived, rigid hydrated complex around the Li ion is shown to be inconsistent with the results.